Florida, Texas Move to Block Flock's License Plate Cameras Over Privacy Concerns
Florida and Texas block Flock's 130,000-license plate camera network over privacy concerns.
Why it matters: This signals a shift in surveillance tech regulation, impacting legal compliance and civil liberties advising. Legal professionals must navigate evolving rules on ALPR use and data privacy.
- Florida Department of Transportation ordered removal of all ALPRs from state highways within 30 days starting August 31, 2026.
- Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized limiting surveillance to protect Floridians' sovereignty and quality of life.
- Texas city of Austin ended its contract with Flock; Burnet County Sheriff removed Flock cameras amid public opposition.
- Flock operates 120,000 cameras nationwide, capturing 20 billion license plates monthly; privacy and data misuse concerns are widespread.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) issued a directive on August 31, 2026, mandating the removal of all automated license plate readers (ALPRs), including those operated by Flock Safety, from state highway rights-of-way within 30 days. This decision, announced by Governor Ron DeSantis, aims to curb widespread surveillance practices deemed to threaten residents’ privacy and autonomy. FDOT Chief Operating Officer Will Watts cited "recent exponential increase of LPRs" along with "concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes" as the rationale behind the move (Tampa Bay Times).
Across Texas, the city of Austin opted not to renew its contract with Flock after public backlash intensified. Similarly, Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd ordered removal of all Flock cameras following multiple vandalism incidents and increasing opposition (Axios Austin).
Flock Safety operates over 120,000 license plate cameras nationwide, capturing roughly 20 billion license plates each month. The scale of data collection amplifies concerns about surveillance overreach and the potential for misuse, particularly when data from Florida’s Hollywood Police Department is shared with 365 law enforcement agencies around the country, including states as distant as Maine and Arizona (Axios Hollywood).
Legal experts, such as those from LegalClarity Texas, critique the lack of transparency and robust oversight on ALPR data use, retention, and sharing. They caution that public approvals for these cameras often precede adequate understanding of data governance practices (LegalClarity Texas).
Meanwhile, jurisdictions like Scottsdale, Arizona, reevaluate their contracts with Flock amid similar concerns, and Atlanta police conduct internal audits of ALPR use reflecting nationwide debates on privacy versus public safety (Axios Scottsdale, Axios Atlanta).
For legal professionals, these moves underscore the growing regulatory scrutiny of surveillance technologies. Advising clients on compliance requires close attention to state-level bans or restrictions and evolving privacy standards.
By the numbers:
- 30 days — FDOT deadline for removal of ALPRs on Florida state highways starting August 31, 2026
- 120,000 cameras — Flock Safety’s nationwide ALPR network
- 20 billion license plates — monthly read by Flock cameras
Yes, but: Flock Safety asserts it has improved its security and privacy protocols, although skepticism remains amid ongoing public and government scrutiny.
What's next: Florida's 30-day removal deadline ends in late September 2026, with potential regulatory developments and legal challenges expected thereafter. Other states are watching closely as the debate over ALPRs intensifies.