{
  "id": 4458538,
  "title": "Cities are dropping Flock's surveillance cameras at a record pace",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/cities-are-dropping-flocks-surveillance-cameras-at-a-record-pace",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-30T16:28:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechSpot",
    "slug": "techspot",
    "url": "https://www.techspot.com/news/113668-cities-dropping-flock-surveillance-cameras-record-pace.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Declining numbers of cities are terminating contracts with Flock Safety, a company known for its AI-powered camera network. This trend, highlighted by Secure Justice, a California-based anti-surveillance group, indicates growing unease over the rapid expansion of Flock's surveillance capabilities. Between July and August 2023 alone, 90 jurisdictions terminated their agreements with Flock, a fourfold increase from the previous month. This equates to roughly three cancellations daily throughout August.\n\nCities affected by these cancellations span various locations, such as Lansing, Michigan, and Pflugerville, Texas. Concerns raised by these municipalities include the financial implications of the cameras, data sharing among agencies, the extensive reach of Flock's surveillance network, and incidents of police officers misusing the system. The appeal of Flock's system lies in its ability to aggregate data from cameras across participating communities, enhancing the potential for searches across a broader geographical area.\n\nBrian Hofer, the executive director of Secure Justice, expressed concern that the decreasing number of Flock contracts could diminish the company's shared surveillance network's reach. The faster the decline, the larger the potential financial impact for Flock. Hofer warned that if this rate of cancellation persists, the financial repercussions could become significant.\n\nDespite the cancellations, Flock maintains that new business has offset the losses. Courtney Terlecki, a spokesperson for Flock, stated that new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by a factor of ten this year. However, Flock has not disclosed the exact number of new customers added in 2023. The company emphasized that it now serves over 5,000 communities with its products.\n\nCritics argue that the rise of AI in surveillance systems, exemplified by Flock, exacerbates issues of privacy and mass surveillance. Jake Laperruque, the deputy director of the Center for Democracy and Technology's Security and Surveillance Project, cautioned that AI allows for more complex searches, including those based on keywords and people. He also noted that other camera networks are incorporating real-time facial recognition technology. Laperruque highlighted the potential for AI to transform automated license plate readers (ALPRs) into a tool for pervasive mass surveillance.\n\nIn response to the backlash, Flock implemented policy changes. CEO Garrett Langley announced that the company would shorten its default data retention period from 30 days to seven days. Additionally, Flock updated its terms of use to prohibit customers from using its services for deceptive, harassing, or stalking activities, as well as any violations of legal rights. Despite these measures, the controversy surrounding Flock's technology persists. Senator Josh Hawley stated that he is investigating the company's data collection, retention, and dissemination practices. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida also raised concerns after two police officers were arrested for allegedly misusing Flock's surveillance system. Law professor Catherine Crump of UC Berkeley emphasized that the misuse of this AI-powered technology extends beyond privacy concerns, impacting the lives of individuals in numerous ways.",
  "summary": "Secure Justice, an Oakland-based anti-surveillance group, says 214 cities and counties have dropped Flock since 2021. Ninety jurisdictions ended contracts in August alone, a fourfold increase from July, according to the group's latest update. That works out to about three cancellations a day during the month. Read Entire Article",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Semafor",
        "title": "Politicians criticize Flock cameras ahead of midterms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/politicians-criticize-flock-cameras-ahead-of-midterms",
        "published": "2026-08-26T17:21:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "Americans are cheering for vigilantes who take down Flock cameras",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/americans-are-cheering-for-vigilantes-who-take-down-flock-cameras",
        "published": "2026-08-27T15:49:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Digital Trends",
        "title": "The resistance against Flock surveillance cameras has birthed a vigilante movement in the US",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/the-resistance-against-flock-surveillance-cameras-has-birthed-a",
        "published": "2026-08-28T19:06:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}