Flock Safety, a vendor known for its fixed license-plate scanning cameras, reportedly proposed a plan to utilize dashcams from ride-sharing and delivery drivers to create a nationwide mobile fleet. The company stated that this initiative, which would have leveraged hundreds of thousands of cameras already in vehicles, was never launched.
The proposal, detailed in a presentation shared with 404 Media, aimed to expand Flock Safety’s reach beyond its existing network of fixed cameras. These cameras, typically mounted on poles, record the license plate, color, make, and model of passing vehicles, building a searchable database. The proposed Nexar dashcam integration would have allowed these cameras to be untethered, enabling them to track license plates across entire regions in real time by moving with vehicles like those from Uber and Lyft.
This ambitious plan emerged as Flock Safety’s existing camera systems face increasing scrutiny and opposition. The company’s fixed cameras have become a point of contention in many communities, with some residents resorting to disabling or covering them in protest. Concerns over civil liberties and privacy have coincided with significant pushback.
In July, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) let its contract with Flock Safety expire, citing “serious concerns” over civil liberties and privacy. This decision followed CNN’s documentation of at least two dozen cases where officers allegedly resigned or were arrested for abusing Flock’s license-plate system.
The ground is also shifting for automated license-plate recognition (ALPR) technology more broadly. In May, the non-profit advocacy group EPIC urged Congress to ban ALPRs outright. States are also taking action; Washington passed SB 6002, which restricts ALPR use, and California is considering a bill to limit how ALPR data is shared. Additionally, a proposed House bill would require warrants for government AI surveillance.
Flock Safety’s technology has also faced legal challenges. A federal judge allowed a lawsuit in Norfolk, Virginia, alleging that Flock cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, to proceed. The judge cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in Carpenter v. United States, which addresses warrantless tracking.
Despite these challenges, Flock Safety achieved an $8.4 billion valuation in April. Its stationary cameras are currently deployed in over 5,000 U.S. communities. The company’s pitch for a mobile expansion, as outlined in the presentation, was to operate at a “civilian scale,” differentiating it from similar roaming systems used by law enforcement cruisers or repossession agents.
Flock Safety stated that the Nexar deal was never launched, indicating that the proposed mobile fleet did not become operational. However, the proposal itself highlights the company’s efforts to expand its data collection capabilities. The implementation of Flock’s cameras on federal buildings also drew significant opposition, with arguments that it could violate civil rights. A tweet from Representative Thomas Massie indicated plans to sponsor a bill withholding federal funds from municipalities and police departments using Flock cameras for surveillance.
While Flock Safety has stated the Nexar deal was not launched, the proposal underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the expansion of surveillance technology and the balance between public safety and individual privacy rights. The company’s future growth may be shaped by the increasing regulatory and legal hurdles facing ALPR technology.
Why This Matters
The materials describe a narrow update: Flock Safety, a controversial law enforcement vendor, proposed a plan to utilize dashcams from Nexar, a company with hundreds of thousands of cameras already in vehicles, to scan license plates of passing cars. Whether Flock Safety ever launched the Nexar deal.
Broader Context
Source materials place the factual news in this context: Flock Safety wanted to turn 350,000 Uber drivers into a nationwide plate-scanning fleet.
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