Published: July 24, 2026 Category: Surveillance, Privacy, Guide Reading time: ~10 minutes Meta description: Flock Safety cameras are scanning 20 billion license plates a month across 5,000+ communities. Here's how to find if there's a Flock camera near you and how to opt out of their surveillance network.
There are now over 20 billion vehicle scans captured every single month by Flock Safety cameras across 5,000+ communities in 49 states. If you drive a car in any major US city — or increasingly, any suburban neighborhood — your license plate has almost certainly been recorded by a Flock camera.
And in July 2026, the controversy around these cameras is reaching a boiling point:
Whether you're concerned about your privacy or just want to know who's tracking your movements, this guide covers everything you need to know about Flock cameras, how to find them near you, and how to opt out of their data collection.
Flock Safety (officially Flock Group Inc.) is a privately-held surveillance company founded in 2017 by three Georgia Tech alumni. The company manufactures and operates:
As of 2025, Flock has raised $950 million in venture funding at a $7.5 billion valuation and employs over 900 people.
Flock cameras are mounted on poles, traffic lights, building exteriors, and mobile trailers. They capture a photo of every vehicle that passes, recording:
This data is uploaded to Flock's cloud, cross-referenced against watchlists, and stored for 30+ days by default. Police can search the database retroactively — for example, "show me every vehicle that passed this intersection between 2-4 PM on Tuesday."
> Related: What Is a Data Broker? The Multi-Billion Dollar Industry That Knows Everything About You →
Flock operates in over 5,000 communities across 49 US states. They're not just in big cities — they're increasingly common in:
Flock Safety has published a camera location map showing some (but not all) of their installations. This map is incomplete — it only includes cameras where the customer has agreed to public listing.
Search for your city or county name + "Flock camera" or "ALPR" or "license plate reader":
Flock cameras are distinctive — they're small, white, rectangular units mounted on poles, usually pointed at traffic. They look like:
Users sometimes mark Flock camera locations on Waze (similar to how they mark police cameras). Check the map near your home and commute route.
This is the part that's generating the most controversy in 2026.
Flock Safety collects personal information and is subject to state privacy laws. You have the right to request access, correction, and deletion of your personal data.
To submit a privacy request:
1. Email: privacy@flocksafety.com 2. Subject: "Data Subject Access Request — California Privacy Rights" (or your state's applicable law) 3. Include in your email: - Your full name - Your state of residence - Your license plate number(s) - The dates and locations you're inquiring about - A request for: - Confirmation of whether Flock holds your personal data - Access to any data held about you - Deletion of your data
Sample email template:
> To: privacy@flocksafety.com > Subject: Data Subject Access Request — CCPA/CPRA > > I am a California resident exercising my rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). I request: > > 1. Confirmation of whether Flock Safety holds any personal information relating to me > 2. Access to and a copy of any such personal information > 3. Deletion of any such personal information > > My vehicle information is provided below for search purposes: > - License Plate: [PLATE NUMBER] > - State: [STATE] > > Please confirm receipt within 10 business days as required by law.
Note: Flock's privacy policy states they respond to verified requests. They also use VeraSafe for dispute resolution.
If Flock cameras are in your neighborhood through an HOA:
1. Request the HOA's Flock contract — you're entitled to review it 2. Ask about data retention and sharing policies 3. Attend HOA meetings — voice your privacy concerns 4. Organize neighbors — HOAs are responsive to organized resident concerns 5. Vote on HOA board members who support privacy
If Flock cameras are operated by your local police department:
1. Attend city council meetings — ask about the Flock contract 2. File a public records request — request the Flock agreement, data retention policy, and audit logs 3. Ask about warrant requirements — does your local PD require a warrant to search Flock data? 4. Contact your city council member — express your privacy concerns
Flock is one piece of a much larger surveillance ecosystem. Data brokers collect and sell your personal information — including driving records, vehicle registrations, and location data — to companies like Flock, insurance agencies, and marketing firms.
For complete privacy protection, you need to remove your data from data broker sites that feed into these surveillance networks:
Run a free data broker scan with CyberForget →
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HOA-installed Flock cameras are one of the most controversial aspects of the 2026 surveillance debate. If your HOA is considering or has already installed Flock cameras:
Many people searching for "how to opt out of flock on ring" are responding to the canceled Ring-Flock partnership.
Update: Amazon's Ring canceled its partnership with Flock Safety in 2024 following massive public backlash (users boycotted Ring over the privacy implications). The partnership would have allowed Ring doorbell footage to be shared with Flock's ALPR network.
Currently, Ring and Flock do not share data. However, Amazon-owned Ring does share footage with law enforcement through its "Neighbors" app and Request for Assistance program. If you're concerned:
| Development | Impact | |-------------|--------| | LAPD suspends Flock (Jul 2026) | Major city signals distrust | | Flock lied about ALPR tech (ACLU, Jul 2026) | Legal liability increases | | Police stalking with Flock (ongoing) | Multiple officers fired | | SCOTUS ruling (Jun/Jul 2026) | Could limit warrantless ALPR | | City cancellations (nationwide) | Syracuse, CT towns, Detroit metro | | Norfolk 4th Amendment ruling (2024) | Sets precedent for warrants | | Grassroots rebellion (trash bags on cameras) | Growing public opposition |
Even if Flock doesn't remove your data, state privacy laws give you additional rights:
> Related: 2026 Data Privacy Laws: What Changed and What's Coming →
Flock Safety cameras represent one of the largest mass surveillance systems in American history — 20 billion scans per month across 5,000+ communities. The 2026 news cycle has exposed serious problems: police abuse, misleading claims, and a growing public backlash.
Your immediate action plan:
1. Find out if there's a Flock camera near you — check maps, city council records, and local forums 2. Submit a privacy request to privacy@flocksafety.com to learn what data they hold 3. Exercise your state privacy rights — CCPA, CPRA, VCDPA, and others 4. Remove your data from data brokers that feed surveillance networks 5. Get involved locally — attend city council and HOA meetings
Run a free data broker scan now →
Flock cameras won't disappear overnight. But with the LAPD suspension, city cancellations, and a Supreme Court ruling on the table, 2026 is the year the tide is turning. Your privacy is worth protecting.
*Updated: July 24, 2026. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.*
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