Flock camera data sharing and breaches
Data sharing has become the sharpest issue in the ALPR debate, because it is where councils discover that a local decision had national reach. This page tracks 42 stories on how plate data collected by one agency ends up searchable by another.
Several of the contract cancellations tracked elsewhere on this site began with exactly one of these audits.
42
Stories tracked
September 3, 2026
Most recent story
July 26, 2026
Earliest tracked
Flock camera data sharing and breaches: the coverage
Every item links to the outlet that reported it. FlockScanner does not write, verify or endorse these stories — see the content policy for how the feed works.
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Columbus to pause Flock camera program after evidence of misuse
The Columbus Dispatch · September 3, 2026
Columbus to pause Flock camera program after evidence of misuse — reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
Read the summary → Original reporting at The Columbus Dispatch ↗
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Flock cameras: Upstate SC concerns growing over surveillance abuses
Greenville Journal · September 2, 2026
Flock cameras: Upstate SC concerns growing over surveillance abuses — reported by Greenville Journal.
Read the summary → Original reporting at Greenville Journal ↗
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Flock Safety cameras face bipartisan scrutiny over privacy and misuse
Spectrum News · August 31, 2026
Flock Safety cameras face bipartisan scrutiny over privacy and misuse — reported by Spectrum News.
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Police keep misusing license plate readers. Flock Safety is using AI to catch it.
ajc.com · August 31, 2026
Police keep misusing license plate readers. Flock Safety is using AI to catch it. — reported by ajc.com.
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Supervisor with Athens-Clarke County Police fired for misusing Flock license plate reader
11Alive.com · August 28, 2026
Supervisor with Athens-Clarke County Police fired for misusing Flock license plate reader — reported by 11Alive.com.
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Tempe mayor on move to cancel Flock cameras: ‘Potential for misuse was too great’
The Hill · August 28, 2026
Tempe mayor on move to cancel Flock cameras: ‘Potential for misuse was too great’ — reported by The Hill.
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Bipartisan push for investigation into Flock Safety cameras grows amid misuse allegations
WXYZ Channel 7 · August 27, 2026
Bipartisan push for investigation into Flock Safety cameras grows amid misuse allegations — reported by WXYZ Channel 7.
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Menlo Park overhauls license plate reader sharing after discovering more improper searches
The Almanac · August 27, 2026
Menlo Park overhauls license plate reader sharing after discovering more improper searches — reported by The Almanac.
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Missouri Sheriffs Back Data Limits, Misuse Penalties for License Plate Reader Cameras
Missourinet · August 26, 2026
Missouri Sheriffs Back Data Limits, Misuse Penalties for License Plate Reader Cameras — reported by Missourinet.
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Surprise officer cleared in license plate reader misuse investigation
AZ Family · August 26, 2026
Surprise officer cleared in license plate reader misuse investigation — reported by AZ Family.
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4 Savannah officers arrested over Flock Safety misuse. What does oversight look like in Georgia?
CBS News · August 23, 2026
4 Savannah officers arrested over Flock Safety misuse. What does oversight look like in Georgia? — reported by CBS News.
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A Missouri police department axes Flock cameras after staffer's 'egregious misuse' of system
KCUR · August 23, 2026
A Missouri police department axes Flock cameras after staffer's 'egregious misuse' of system — reported by KCUR.
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Police officers accused of misusing Flock license plate reader technology
NBC Boston · August 21, 2026
Police officers accused of misusing Flock license plate reader technology — reported by NBC Boston.
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S.C. lieutenant fired after Flock audit finds 2,700 unauthorized ALPR searches
Police1 · August 21, 2026
S.C. lieutenant fired after Flock audit finds 2,700 unauthorized ALPR searches — reported by Police1.
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Henrico fire investigators’ license plate camera data access revoked over violations of state law
WRIC ABC 8News · August 20, 2026
Henrico fire investigators’ license plate camera data access revoked over violations of state law — reported by WRIC ABC 8News.
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Itasca police officer accused of misusing Flock license plate reader technology, no longer employed by department
ABC7 Chicago · August 20, 2026
Itasca police officer accused of misusing Flock license plate reader technology, no longer employed by department — reported by ABC7 Chicago.
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Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy accused of misusing license plate reader to track fellow deputy
TMJ4 News · August 20, 2026
Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy accused of misusing license plate reader to track fellow deputy — reported by TMJ4 News.
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Flock tightens license plate camera rules after nationwide misuse reports
kcrg.com · August 15, 2026
Flock tightens license plate camera rules after nationwide misuse reports — reported by kcrg.com.
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Flock Safety announces policy changes following law enforcement misuse
KWCH · August 14, 2026
Flock Safety announces policy changes following law enforcement misuse — reported by KWCH.
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Flock Safety CEO apologizes for license plate reader misuse, announces policy changes
WOWT · August 14, 2026
Flock Safety CEO apologizes for license plate reader misuse, announces policy changes — reported by WOWT.
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Flock sets 7-day default for ALPR data, adds mandatory misuse safeguards
Police1 · August 14, 2026
Flock sets 7-day default for ALPR data, adds mandatory misuse safeguards — reported by Police1.
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WECT INVESTIGATES: Flock Safety CEO apologizes for license plate reader misuse, announces policy changes
wect.com · August 14, 2026
WECT INVESTIGATES: Flock Safety CEO apologizes for license plate reader misuse, announces policy changes — reported by wect.com.
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Chandler police officer resigns, admits to misusing Flock cameras
azfamily.com · August 13, 2026
Chandler police officer resigns, admits to misusing Flock cameras — reported by azfamily.com.
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City of Surprise suspends automated license plate readers after potential misuse
12news.com · August 13, 2026
City of Surprise suspends automated license plate readers after potential misuse — reported by 12news.com.
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Flock Safety mandates safeguards after reports of police misuse of plate-reader network
National Desk · August 13, 2026
Flock Safety mandates safeguards after reports of police misuse of plate-reader network — reported by National Desk.
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Madison County residents say Flock cameras pose threats, can be misused
The Asheville Citizen Times · August 13, 2026
Madison County residents say Flock cameras pose threats, can be misused — reported by The Asheville Citizen Times.
Read the summary → Original reporting at The Asheville Citizen Times ↗
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City removes unauthorized 'Flock' license plate reader camera
KUTV · August 12, 2026
City removes unauthorized 'Flock' license plate reader camera — reported by KUTV.
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Public Interest Law Firm Releases New Page Tracking License Plate Reader Abuse Nationwide
ij.org · August 12, 2026
Public Interest Law Firm Releases New Page Tracking License Plate Reader Abuse Nationwide — reported by ij.org.
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The IJ Database of ALPR Abuse
The Institute for Justice · August 12, 2026
The IJ Database of ALPR Abuse — reported by The Institute for Justice.
Read the summary → Original reporting at The Institute for Justice ↗
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GBI Arrests Former Polk County Officer Over Flock Safety System Misuse
Valdosta Today · August 11, 2026
GBI Arrests Former Polk County Officer Over Flock Safety System Misuse — reported by Valdosta Today.
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Flock camera abuse allegations mount after company rolls out audit tool
AJC.com · August 9, 2026
Flock camera abuse allegations mount after company rolls out audit tool — reported by AJC.com.
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Former Polk County officer accused of misusing license plate reader system
11Alive.com · August 9, 2026
Former Polk County officer accused of misusing license plate reader system — reported by 11Alive.com.
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Video Savannah police fires 6 employees over alleged Flock safety system misuse - ABC News
Breaking News, Latest News and Videos · August 9, 2026
Video Savannah police fires 6 employees over alleged Flock safety system misuse - ABC News — reported by Breaking News, Latest News and Videos.
Read the summary → Original reporting at Breaking News, Latest News and Videos ↗
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Ex-Polk County Police Officer arrested for misuse of license plate reader system
11Alive.com · August 8, 2026
Ex-Polk County Police Officer arrested for misuse of license plate reader system — reported by 11Alive.com.
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Savannah Police Department fires 6 employees over Flock Safety System misuse
WTOC · August 7, 2026
Savannah Police Department fires 6 employees over Flock Safety System misuse — reported by WTOC.
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Mooresville police officer accused of misusing Flock Safety cameras
WBTV · August 6, 2026
Mooresville police officer accused of misusing Flock Safety cameras — reported by WBTV.
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Reynoldsburg officers leave department after alleged Flock camera misuse
WSYX · August 5, 2026
Reynoldsburg officers leave department after alleged Flock camera misuse — reported by WSYX.
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6 Savannah Police employees placed on leave over possible misuse of Flock cameras, mayor says
cbsnews.com · August 3, 2026
6 Savannah Police employees placed on leave over possible misuse of Flock cameras, mayor says — reported by cbsnews.com.
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Savannah Police investigates six employees over alleged misuse of license plate reader system
WTOC · July 31, 2026
Savannah Police investigates six employees over alleged misuse of license plate reader system — reported by WTOC.
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Twin Falls, Idaho Falls facing tort claims over alleged violations tied to Flock Safety camera systems
KTVB · July 31, 2026
Twin Falls, Idaho Falls facing tort claims over alleged violations tied to Flock Safety camera systems — reported by KTVB.
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KPD Chief Paul Noel defends ALPR cameras amid public concerns over privacy and misuse
WBIR · July 29, 2026
KPD Chief Paul Noel defends ALPR cameras amid public concerns over privacy and misuse — reported by WBIR.
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Inside the growing police use and misuse of Flock’s license-plate reader cameras
CNN · July 26, 2026
Inside the growing police use and misuse of Flock’s license-plate reader cameras — reported by CNN.
Common questions
Who can access Flock camera data?
The agency operating the camera, plus any agency it has chosen to share with through Flock's opt-in lookup network. In practice that has meant thousands of other departments in reported cases: an Elk Grove (CA) audit found local data had been accessed by thousands of agencies, and federal immigration authorities' access to locally collected data has driven multiple council votes. FlockScanner tracks 42 stories on this. Members of the public cannot search the data.
Is Flock camera data shared with ICE or federal agencies?
Reporting has repeatedly documented federal agency access to plate data collected by local departments through Flock's national lookup network, including in immigration enforcement contexts, and several cities have cancelled contracts specifically over it. Whether it happens in any given jurisdiction depends on that agency's sharing settings — which is precisely what many councils found they had never reviewed.
Other news topics
- Cities that cancelled Flock cameras (62)
- Flock camera privacy concerns (59)
- Opposition to Flock cameras (59)
- Flock camera audits and oversight (41)
- ALPR and Flock camera legislation (17)
- Flock camera misuse and abuse cases (15)
- Flock camera lawsuits (10)
- Flock camera vandalism reports (10)
Where the cameras are
FlockScanner also maps documented ALPR camera locations across the US — see the live map, camera locations by state, or cameras near you.