- Flock Safety cameras removed from Florida highways after misconduct and privacy violations.
- DeSantis blasts the tracking technology as government overreach into private life.
- Texas also bans state funding of Flock after officer indicted for unauthorized database searches.
- Misuse of the system by law enforcement documented in multiple states beyond Texas and Florida.
- Flock caught reinstalling cameras after local contracts terminated, raising control concerns.
Florida's Department of Transportation ordered all automated license plate readers removed from state highway rights-of-way within 30 days, citing data privacy violations and law enforcement misconduct. Governor Ron DeSantis endorsed the move as necessary to prevent a "digital AI surveillance state," a decision that follows similar action taken last week by Texas Governor Greg Abbott's administration. Texas's decision came after a Lufkin police officer was indicted on 100 felony counts for allegedly searching Flock Safety's database to track people without authorization. Flock's network includes an estimated 120,000 to 130,000 license plate readers nationwide, depending on the source.
Florida cites broad pattern of misuse, not a single case
Florida's Department of Transportation memo, signed by Chief Operating Officer Will Watts, revoked all permits for license plate readers within state highway rights-of-way. Watts cited "concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes" as justification, according to the memo obtained by ABC News. Local law enforcement agencies that obtained permits must remove the devices within 30 days or face state-ordered removal.
DeSantis amplified the decision at a Monday press conference, framing the technology as government overreach into private life. "If you want to get in your car and you want to go down to Buc-ee's in St. Augustine, it's really none of the government's damn business if you're doing that," he said, warning that companies profit not just from selling cameras but from selling people's location data.
Texas acts after officer indicted for unauthorized database searches
Texas ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras last week, following the Lufkin officer's indictment. Local reports indicate Dallas could face significant disruption, with hundreds of Flock cameras operating throughout the city. The moves reflect growing bipartisan alarm over civil liberties: In recent months, officers in Louisiana and Massachusetts were caught misusing the system to look up information on people they knew personally. The Louisiana officer was fired; the Massachusetts town terminated its Flock contract and removed the cameras following the incident. Flock announced policy changes last month in response to the backlash, including requiring criminal case numbers for database searches and cutting data retention from 30 to seven days.
Accuracy problems and mission creep deepen the distrust
The crackdown follows mounting evidence of technical flaws in the system. Accuracy issues with Flock's technology have led to wrongful police stops and arrests in multiple states, and cybersecurity researchers have found that stolen police logins can expose the company's cameras to hackers. Recent reporting also indicates Flock is shifting beyond scanning license plates toward identifying and tracking individual people — a development privacy advocates say raises the stakes considerably.
Flock defends its technology as states move to shut it out
Flock Safety has pushed back against the state-level bans. A company spokesperson told Fox Business the technology is "an important public safety tool," citing recent Florida cases involving missing children, a murder suspect and stolen vehicles. The company is calling for "thoughtful legislation and strong privacy, transparency and accountability guardrails" instead of outright prohibition.
But communities are increasingly rejecting the company's assurances. Evanston, Illinois; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Eugene, Oregon have all reported that Flock reinstalled or reactivated cameras after local officials terminated their contracts, raising the uncomfortable question of who actually controls the surveillance once it's installed. For a technology sold on the promise of accountability, Flock's own difficulty letting go of these camera networks may end up being its biggest liability yet, regardless of what state legislatures ultimately decide.
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