'Flock' Blocks ICE from License Plate Reader Access in Several States

June 25, 2025 – Flock Safety, a leading provider of automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology, has suspended access to its surveillance systems for law enforcement agencies in California, Illinois, and Virginia. The decision follows reports that the technology was used to assist federal immigration enforcement and track individuals in sensitive cases, raising significant privacy and civil liberties concerns.

Flock’s ALPR cameras, deployed in over 5,000 communities across the United States, capture license plate data and vehicle characteristics, storing the information for 30 days unless otherwise required by local law. The company markets its technology to law enforcement, homeowner associations, and businesses as a tool to combat crime, such as vehicle theft and violent offenses. However, recent investigations revealed that local police were conducting lookups on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies, effectively granting ICE indirect access to Flock’s nationwide network despite the agency lacking a direct contract with the company.

A report disclosed that state and local law enforcement agencies performed over 4,000 immigration-related searches using Flock’s systems, often at the request of federal authorities. These findings prompted Flock to block access to its cameras in the three states, citing new legislation and public backlash over privacy violations.

“This sort of mass tracking violates the promise made to undocumented residents that they will be safe in the county,” said Albert Fox Cahn, director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, in an interview with The Guardian. Privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have long warned that Flock’s nationwide network risks creating a centralized mass-surveillance system. The ACLU has criticized the company’s data-sharing practices, noting that Flock’s default provisions grant the company a “worldwide” license to use customer data, potentially enabling its use in immigration enforcement or other jurisdictions’ laws.

Flock Safety emphasized its commitment to community values and democratic governance: “We are committed to ensuring every customer can leverage technology in a way that reflects their values, and support democratically authorized governing bodies to determine what that means for their community.” The company also highlighted its efforts to promote best practices, such as robust auditing requirements for ALPR use.

The decision to restrict access in California, Illinois, and Virginia aligns with stricter state regulations governing surveillance technology. For example, California’s sanctuary laws limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and a 2015 state law prohibits sharing ALPR data with out-of-state or federal entities. Despite these measures, a California state audit found instances where local agencies inadvertently shared data with ICE due to confusing vendor settings, underscoring the challenges of regulating ALPR systems.

Legal challenges have also emerged. In June 2024, a Norfolk, Virginia, Circuit Court judge ruled that Flock’s ALPR data collection constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment, requiring a warrant for use in criminal cases. This precedent, coupled with a federal lawsuit filed by the Institute for Justice against the Norfolk Police Department, has intensified scrutiny of Flock’s operations.

While Flock’s technology has been credited with aiding law enforcement—such as locating a missing elderly woman in Alabama in 2023—critics argue that its widespread use threatens civil liberties. “I assume there’s a fair number of community residents who accept giving police the power to deploy license plate readers to catch a bank robber, who would absolutely gag on the idea that their community’s cameras have become part of a nationwide ICE surveillance infrastructure,” said Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst at the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project.

Flock’s move to limit access in three states may signal a broader shift in how ALPR companies navigate the balance between public safety and privacy. However, with the company’s cameras still operational in thousands of communities, advocates continue to call for stricter regulations and transparency to prevent abuse.

17GEN4.com

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