How AI Cameras Are Creating A Dystopian Surveillance Nation In The U.S.

Flock Safety's AI-powered automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) camera network, originally marketed as a tool to recover stolen vehicles, locate missing people, and help solve crimes, now covers nearly 70% of the U.S. population.^[1]

However, a series of reports published over the past year suggest the company has quietly built something far bigger: a nationwide surveillance network. If you drive in the U.S., there's a good chance you're already part of it.

From private businesses to local police departments, these cameras have been accessed by federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to support immigration enforcement, raising concerns that a system built for local public safety is now being used for broader surveillance purposes.

Here's how Flock's AI-powered camera network works, why it has faced mounting criticism over privacy and data-sharing practices, and what you can do to better protect your personal information.

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How do Flock's AI cameras work

A Flock automatic license plate reader (ALPR) is an AI-powered roadside camera that automatically scans passing vehicles and reads their license plate numbers using optical character recognition (OCR).

In addition to the license plate itself, the system records details such as the vehicle's make, model, color, distinguishing features like bumper stickers, dents, bike racks, or temporary tags, as well as the date, time, and GPS location of each sighting.

Unlike traditional traffic cameras, Flock cameras are not designed to issue speeding tickets or enforce traffic violations. Instead, in the company's own words, Flock "supports communities across the country in addressing crime and locating missing people."

There's no denying that Flock cameras are capable of doing good work in public safety scenarios, such as during Amber Alerts or when locating missing people or stolen vehicles. For instance, in March, Flock said its cameras helped police arrest seven men accused of a $20 million Home Depot and Lowe's gift card scam.

However, as Tom Bowman, policy counsel for the Center for Democracy & Technology's Security & Surveillance Project, argued, the risks associated with the system currently outweigh its benefits.

Why Flock's AI cameras are raising privacy concerns

The main concern surrounding Flock's surveillance network isn't necessarily the cameras themselves, but the lack of transparency, oversight, and meaningful safeguards governing who can access the data they collect. And these gaps have already resulted in several troubling real-world cases.

One of the clearest examples came from a 404 Media investigation, which uncovered evidence that local police departments were carrying out informal searches on behalf of federal immigration authorities.

Audit logs from Flock's nationwide network showed thousands of searches with reasons such as "immigration," "ICE," and "ICE + ERO" — the latter referring to ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations division, which is responsible for deportations.

The findings raised concerns that local agencies were effectively providing "backdoor" access to a surveillance network that federal immigration authorities do not directly control. Flock’s network also extends well beyond police-owned cameras.

Major retailers, including Lowe's, Home Depot, Costco, Walmart, and Target, have installed Flock's AI-powered license plate readers outside their stores and parking lots, contributing vehicle data to the wider network.

Dave Maass, director of investigations at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, raised concerns about the privacy implications of these partnerships. “Have these companies given thought about how this data might put their customers in danger, whether it's cops stalking their exes or aggressive ICE agents targeting yard workers? Probably not,” he said.

When surveillance goes wrong

To understand how these imperfect systems can have serious real-world consequences for ordinary people, consider what happened to an automotive journalist in Minnesota.

After a dealership in California made a simple data-entry error, Flock's nationwide camera network repeatedly flagged his loaned Range Rover as stolen. Police tracked the vehicle for days before surrounding it with guns drawn in a shopping center parking lot.

In a separate case, a police officer in Texas used the system to track down a woman who had allegedly undergone a self-administered abortion.

Furthermore, emails obtained by 404 Media revealed that crime analysts from Oregon police departments routinely offered to perform Flock license plate searches for one another and, in one instance, a Medford police analyst carried out Flock lookups for an agent with Homeland Security Investigations.

“This mass surveillance tool is creating fear among those targeted by immigration, anti-abortion, and other regressive actions. That’s no way to live in a democratic society,” says ACLU.

Flock, however, has denied responsibility, arguing that data-sharing permissions are determined by local laws.

Flock already overstepping boundaries

Ironically, though, its own nationwide search tool has been found wanting when it comes to enforcing those restrictions.

In Oxnard, California, an audit found that the feature allowed agencies outside the state to access the city's license plate data without the police department's knowledge or approval, despite the system being configured for California-only access.

The incident has since contributed to a lawsuit against Flock, with two California drivers alleging that the platform unlawfully enabled federal and out-of-state agencies to access data collected by local ALPR cameras.

The plaintiffs also claim that, in one instance, the California Highway Patrol effectively searched the databases of 845 localities in a single query on behalf of ICE. “Flock has created an Orwellian mass-surveillance infrastructure that is practically impossible to avoid,” the complaint states.

How cybercriminals could exploit license plate data

Even if license plate data seems harmless on its own, it can, unfortunately, become a powerful tool in the wrong hands. A vehicle registration number can often be linked to a specific person through government records or data brokers, making it possible to identify and profile individuals.

If this information is exposed through a data breach or misused by bad actors, it could fuel convincing phishing scams. For example, someone might receive a text claiming their vehicle has an unpaid speeding ticket or parking fine, complete with their correct license plate number, urging them to click a malicious link. Because the message contains genuine information, victims are far more likely to trust it.

That link could then steal login credentials, install malware, harvest banking information, or trick victims into making fraudulent payments. Combined with other leaked personal data, license plate records could also be used for identity theft, stalking, or harassment.

Resistance to Flock's surveillance network is growing

Even though it might feel like a dystopian, CCTV-on-every-corner future has already arrived, not everyone is accepting this new reality. Privacy advocates are actively pushing back against these surveillance systems, and even government officials are beginning to recognize the risks they pose.

One recent example came in June, when city workers in Dayton, Ohio, covered Flock Safety cameras with trash bags after officials announced they would stop using the company's data. The move followed what city officials described as “egregious violations of policy,” after it emerged that Flock had secretly shared data with outside entities for immigration enforcement purposes.

In September 2025, the city of Evanston took similar action, covering its Flock cameras while asking the company to remove them altogether. The decision came after it was revealed that Flock had granted U.S. Customs and Border Protection access to cameras across the state, despite Illinois law prohibiting such data sharing.

Evanston isn't alone. Several other cities, including Santa Cruz, Mountain View, and Los Altos Hills, have also scrapped Flock cameras or terminated their contracts altogether, citing privacy concerns.

Better yet, lawmakers are also beginning to respond. Although Congress recently rejected a bipartisan proposal that would have severely limited the use of ALPRs nationwide, several states — like Connecticut and Washington — have introduced or passed measures to tighten rules around how sensitive vehicle data can be collected, share d, and retained.

Bottom line

Flock Safety's AI-powered ALPR cameras certainly have their benefits, such as helping recover stolen vehicles, locate missing people, and solve crimes. But as things stand today, their alleged misuse for unlawful surveillance by federal authorities has turned them into a growing privacy nightmare for millions of American citizens.

From police wrongly surrounding you with guns in a parking lot because of a tiny system error to bad actors exploiting your data for phishing, fraud, or identity theft, the potential consequences are alarming.

Fortunately, there's still hope. Numerous cities have already started binning these cameras or terminating their contracts, while lawmakers are actively debating new legislation to introduce stronger privacy safeguards.

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Author Details

Krishi Chowdhary

About the Author

Krishi Chowdhary specializes in digital privacy, cybersecurity, and consumer technology. He has written extensively on online privacy tools and broader cybersecurity topics, including online scams, data breaches, age verification, and emerging digital threats. Krishi believes technology reporting should empower readers, not confuse them, and is committed to making even the most technical subjects easy to understand without compromising on accuracy or depth. His work has appeared in leading technology publications, including CNET, ExpressVPN, and TechRadar, where he has covered topics ranging from cybersecurity incidents and privacy product announcements to artificial intelligence and major technology news