The Los Angeles Police Department has decided to terminate its contract with a surveillance company called Flock Safety, which manages a portion of the city’s license plate reading camera system. This move, confirmed by department CIO Dean Giaramas, is attributed to disagreements over the management of the camera footage.
Flock, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced criticism, particularly from progressive groups, accusing it of sharing information with ICE to track undocumented immigrants. The company maintains it does not disclose customer data without explicit permission from users.
Activists in Los Angeles have expressed concerns that this surveillance technology is aiding federal immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, several cities across Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan have already cut ties with Flock, while some departments in Georgia and Oklahoma continue to utilize its services.
A group named Stop LAPD Spying has even filed a lawsuit against the LAPD and the city, claiming the department has not been transparent regarding its use of Flock’s AI-driven network.
Giaramas emphasized that the LAPD is committed to safeguarding citizens’ privacy rights. He stated, “Our priority is to protect the constitutional rights and civil liberties of the people we serve.” He added that they are working to clarify terms to enhance data ownership and security.
In March, the Police Commission requested a report on the data collected by Flock’s scanners. The commission has not approved any recent donations of Flock cameras, reflecting growing public concern about privacy and data handling.
Giaramas remarked on the complexity of defining data ownership, saying, “The challenge is to have very clear terms about who owns the data and what happens to it after collection.” Flock did not provide comments when approached for this story.
These automatic license plate readers can be installed on police vehicles, poles, or portable units, capturing license plate information alongside location details and timestamps. The LAPD uses this technology to track vehicles reported stolen or linked to suspects in criminal activities, leveraging a network of around 1,500 such readers across the city.
City officials see these cameras as key tools in crime prevention, helping to quickly identify potentially dangerous individuals. Giaramas noted that even a vehicle description can trigger investigations, which streamlines law enforcement’s response to crime.
Despite the advantages, however, concerns about civil liberties persist. Mayor Karen Bass has voiced her support for the camera system but opposed the sharing of data with federal authorities, making it clear that such actions are unacceptable.
Flock represents a minor segment of the LAPD’s camera network. The department will halt the use of Flock cameras moving forward, as discussions continue about how to balance effective policing with privacy rights.
Giaramas concluded that addressing these civil liberties concerns is vital, and they need to ensure that policies and contracts with vendors clearly reflect this commitment.
