{
  "id": 17334,
  "title": "Flock Surveillance Cameras Are Actually Horrible for Fighting Crime, FBI Data Shows",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/01/flock-surveillance-cameras-are-actually-horrible-for-fighting-crime",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-01T19:02:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/future-society/flock-surveillance-atlanta-fbi-data-crime-case-solve"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Since the introduction of Flock Safety in 2017, the ACLU estimates that around 100,000 automatic license plate readers (ALRPs) have been installed throughout the United States. These surveillance systems have raised concerns over privacy, civil liberties, and potential abuse by corrupt officers. However, police officials argue that the cameras are crucial for catching criminals. Atlanta, Georgia, has seen the most extensive deployment of ALRPs, with over 5,000 cameras currently in place. But FBI data exposes the flawed assumption that these cameras significantly contribute to crime prevention. According to ACPC, the number of solved crimes in Atlanta, including homicide, has not improved despite the proliferation of ALRPs. Homicides, for example, had a clearance rate of just 48 percent in 2025, down from 53.4 percent in 2021. Rape cases also remained stagnant, with a closure rate of 37.7 percent, and motor vehicle theft was resolved in only 10 percent of cases in 2025. Though some minor improvements were observed in other crime categories, the changes were insignificant. One of the proponents of ALRP surveillance, Len Phillips, from DeFlock Atlanta, argues that the public has been misled by the promise of improved public safety, ultimately sacrificing their civil liberties.",
  "summary": "\"The public has been asked to accept a significant expansion of surveillance based on the promise that it would dramatically improve public safety.\" The post Flock Surveillance Cameras Are Actually Horrible for Fighting Crime, FBI Data Shows appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [
    "Flock Safety surveillance cameras installed in 100,000+ locations across US since 2017.",
    "FBI data reveals ALRP cameras not effective in improving crime-solving rates.",
    "Atlanta's clearance rate for homicides dropped from 53.4% in 2021 to 48% in 2025."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}