Flock Safety sells "neighborhood security." What they deliver is a distributed surveillance network that logs vehicle movements across the United States. The Hardware 80,000+ Cameras: Solar-powered, AI-enabled, reading every license plate that passes — across 5,000+ law enforcement agencies in 49 states. 20 Billion Scans Per Month: Flock's network processes vehicle sightings at an unprecedented scale. Real-Time Alerts: Police get pinged when a "vehicle of interest" enters your neighborhood. 30+ Day Retention: Where you went, when, and how often — stored for a month by default, with indefinite retention in many jurisdictions. The "Features" They Don't Advertise Flock's system doesn't just catch car thieves. It builds behavioral profiles: Pattern Detection: The AI learns your routine. It knows you go to church on Sunday and the bar on Friday. Association Mapping: It knows who visits your house and how long they stay. Geofencing: Some jurisdictions use Flock to create virtual "tripwires" around abortion clinics, protest sites, and political gatherings. Data Sharing with ICE: The EFF documented Flock sharing data with federal immigration enforcement — a major driver of city contract cancellations. The Pushback Since the start of 2025, the backlash has accelerated: 30+ cities have canceled Flock contracts (Politico, The Guardian) San José, CA faces a class-action lawsuit filed April 2026 alleging Fourth Amendment violations Denver, CO paid $339,000 for 93 cameras, then rejected a $666,000 extension Evanston, IL terminated its contract entirely in August 2025 When Flock sent a cease-and-desist to Will Freeman — the developer behind DeFlock, an open-source ALPR camera map — the EFF defended him. DeFlock remains operational and now tracks 16,000+ cameras worldwide. The Post-Roe Nightmare In states with abortion restrictions, Flock cameras become a dragnet: Camera logs vehicle at clinic location. Police subpoena Flock for "vehicle of interest." Driver receives a knock on the door. This isn't hypothetical. Prosecutors have already requested Flock data in reproductive healthcare cases. The HOA Panopticon The genius of Flock is that they don't need government approval. They sell directly to: Homeowner Associations Business Improvement Districts Private neighborhoods Your HOA voted 12-3 to monitor all vehicle movement. You weren't at the meeting. You're in the system anyway. Map the Cameras DeFlock — Open-source ALPR camera map Have I Been Flocked — Camera density by county EFF Surveillance Self-Defense — Privacy guide