Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez (21 July 2026). "Flock Cameras: Aclu Raises Alarm About Nationwide Surveillance Database", Democracy Now!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/oaro56lbLyQ
Transcript: "Flock's cameras aren't like regular traffic cameras. Their surveillance technology records and tracks every car or human that comes into view. And then an AI algorithm catalogues the make, model, colour, license plate number, bumper stickers, and even scratches. This personal information is then uploaded to a nationwide database that any law enforcement agency with a flock contract can search with little oversight on how they use what they find. Flock is marketed as a tool to fight crimes. But the cameras collect data on millions of vehicles regardless of whether the driver is suspected of a crime." Point: "Automatic license plate reader (ALPR) companies like Flock Safety are quietly building a nationwide mass surveillance system. If there are Flock cameras in your city, they’re tracking, logging, and sharing your movements without a warrant" (American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California. (2026). Point: "Privacy advocates say Flock has created a dragnet, as these queries don’t require a warrant, and the cameras routinely capture details about cars driven by people who are not suspected of crimes. They also worry about police officers who used the tech to try to stalk their romantic interests, as well as ways this data ends up in the hands of federal immigration enforcement" (Mansoor, S., 2026, August 20). Criticism: The use of networked, AI-enabled cameras have the potential to create a mass surveillance system - as Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez explain in the context of those installed by Flock Safety https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flock_Safety (21 July 2026). https://newpractices.co.uk/AI/#oaro56lbLyQ Similar criticism has been made about [Amazon] Ring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_(company) https://newpractices.co.uk/horizons/#OheUzrXsKrY cameras in relation to their 'Search Party' feature https://www.reddit.com/r/cybersecurity/comments/1qzrts8/ring_search_party/ Bibliography: Mansoor, S. (2026, August 20). Their cities dropped Flock surveillance cameras. They’re still being watched. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/20/flock-cameras-surveillance Cox, J. (2026, July 16). 'How cops use flock to track people, not cars'. 404 Media. https://www.404media.co/how-cops-use-flock-to-track-people-not-cars/ American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California. (2026). 'Get Flock Cameras Out of Your Community'. https://www.aclunorcal.org/get-the-flock-out/
