Flock Once Touted Its Cameras as ‘Made in the USA.’ Now It’s Not So Clear

Flock once marketed its cameras as "Made in the USA," but the company's manufacturing supply chain has become a contentious issue. Recent marketing materials no longer specify the location of camera production, and a US manufacturer that previously worked with Flock removed a reference to the company from its website amid growing public backlash.

The startup has sparked nationwide protests, prompting local governments to stop using its cameras, and Congress is considering legislation to limit federal funding to states using Flock and similar license plate readers.

Flock's cameras heavily rely on non-custom parts sourced from various global suppliers. According to data from US import records, the company has increasingly procured "commodity" cameras, radar systems, and other components from Primax Electronics, a manufacturer based in Taiwan with facilities in China, Thailand, and other countries.

Primax reportedly manufactures complete security camera solutions, with some shipments including "Radar" in the product description, potentially referring to radar sensor pods attached to the cameras.

While Flock claims its products comply with the National Defense Authorization Act, which restricts government contractors from using parts from certain Chinese tech companies due to security concerns, critics argue that the lack of transparency about the cameras' origins poses broader risks. Advocacy groups contend that the supply chain's opacity could leave any potential compromises unnoticed, leading to significant concerns about US national security.