Voters in two municipalities, York, Maine, and League City, Texas, have taken a stand against Flock Safety's automated license plate readers (ALPRs) by voting to limit or remove the controversial surveillance technology. These decisions mark a notable shift in public engagement with AI-enabled law enforcement tools, reflecting a growing nationwide backlash fueled by concerns over privacy, potential misuse, and mass surveillance.
In York, Maine, a citizen initiative known as the "Stop ALPRs Ordinance" passed decisively, with 73 percent of voters favoring the measure. The ordinance immediately bans ALPRs in the town and requires future voter approval for the installation of such technology. League City, Texas, saw voters weigh in on an advisory question, Proposition A, regarding the continued use of Flock cameras on public roadways. Although non-binding, the proposition passed with 54 percent of the vote, indicating public support for their continued use by the police department.
A Flock Safety spokesperson expressed disappointment with the outcome in York but stated the company respects the voters' decision. "Flock technology has had a real impact helping to solve crime in those cities and across the country," the spokesperson said, adding that the company would work with the city on next steps.
Privacy advocates view these electoral victories as a significant development. Reem Suleiman of Fight for the Future, an organization advocating against mass surveillance, noted that the ease with which cities have historically approved surveillance tech contracts is diminishing. "In 2026, this isn’t the case," Suleiman stated. "People feel and understand that they do actually have a stake when it comes to surveillance tech and how it’s used."
The backlash against Flock cameras has been building, with nearly 500 cities reportedly pausing or terminating contracts with the company in the past year, according to Secure Justice's tracker. Bipartisan interest in regulating license plate readers has also emerged, evidenced by a U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing.
Beyond municipal contracts, a significant challenge lies in the increasing deployment of Flock cameras by non-governmental entities, including homeowners associations, schools, hospitals, and large retailers. According to Inc. reporting, approximately 5,000 of Flock's 12,000 customers are private sector entities. These private entities can opt to share data generated by their cameras directly with law enforcement, complicating efforts to track and regulate surveillance networks. Major retail chains like Home Depot and Lowe's, and shopping mall operator Simon Properties, are among those using the technology.
Critics also point to the rapid replacement of Flock cameras by other vendors, such as Axon, which has reportedly stepped in to provide ALPR technology in at least seven municipalities. This suggests that the underlying concerns about data privacy and surveillance may not be addressed simply by switching vendors.
Suleiman emphasized that consumer action remains a powerful tool. "Get involved in those fights," she advised. "There is a lot of power that consumers have in terms of voicing their values and insisting from the places they shop and the brands that they love that they’re not going to be complicit in the surveillance network."