Map Shows Cities Deploying Axon Cameras as Flock Backlash Grows

Cities across the United States are increasingly turning to license plate readers from Axon as dissatisfaction with Flock Safety grows, according to recent reports and city council records. This shift is highlighted by 404 Media's August report, which found that municipalities are not abandoning ALPR cameras but rather switching to Axon as an alternative provider.

Privacy advocates have continued to voice concerns over the expansion of these systems, arguing that they can create vast databases tracking millions of drivers' movements. Several cities have already approved or announced deployments of Axon's license plate reader technology. In Antioch, California, officials approved a deal for 55 fixed Axon ALPR locations, while in Durango, Colorado, the police department announced it was transitioning its ALPR program from Flock Safety to Axon, citing the latter's alignment with public safety needs and privacy safeguards.

In Bartlesville, Oklahoma, city officials approved contracts that included new Axon ALPR cameras while reducing the number of Flock cameras. Axon already has long-standing relationships with thousands of law enforcement agencies, which may be helping the company win new business as local governments reassess their relationships with Flock Safety.

Axon's CEO, Rick Smith, attributes the shift to concerns about Flock, stating that agencies are looking to Axon for its privacy controls and integrated technology platform. While both companies sell ALPRs designed to aid law enforcement investigations, they differ in their approach: Axon emphasizes integration with existing law enforcement technology, while Flock highlights the scale of its nationwide network of connected cameras.

Despite the shift, privacy advocates caution that replacing one surveillance provider with another may not address the underlying privacy concerns associated with ALPR technology.