LAPD drops Flock Safety contract over civil liberties concerns

The decision to abandon the Atlanta-based surveillance firm comes amid mounting scrutiny over how license plate data is captured, stored, and shared. Gialamas stated that the department reached a stalemate regarding data governance, noting that the agency will pause services until these fundamental security and civil rights issues are resolved through new, more restrictive contractual language. While the LAPD seeks to address these gaps, it remains unclear whether existing camera hardware will continue to operate or record data during the transition.

This move mirrors growing resistance in cities like Mountain View and South Portland, where officials have severed agreements over fears that surveillance networks facilitate unauthorized tracking by federal immigration authorities. Beyond local policy friction, the company faces intense pressure from reports of technical failures. Recent incidents include motorists being detained at gunpoint due to false positives from license plate readers and security lapses that allowed unauthorized access to live camera feeds. Despite these challenges, Flock spokesperson Holly Beilin expressed surprise at the LAPD’s exit, claiming the company is prepared to address what it characterizes as misconceptions surrounding its operations.