LOS ANGELES — Outrage over mass surveillance technology is forcing local leaders across the United States to tear up their contracts with automated camera providers.
Data collected by the Washington Examiner shows at least 54 US cities have voted to cancel, non-renew, or reject automatic license plate reader contracts with Flock Safety since the beginning of 2026. The shift follows earlier reports in February that around 30 cities had dropped the technology since 2025.
Cities in 23 states have severed ties with the company this year. California and Wisconsin lead the movement with seven contract cancellations, rejections, or deactivations each. New York, Washington, and Massachusetts have recorded four cancellations each, while Virginia has dropped three contracts.
Flock Safety still operates surveillance cameras in more than 5,000 US cities as of July 2026. Despite its widespread footprint, municipal rejections are climbing due to mounting public anger over privacy risks and civil rights.
Resident pushback has grown aggressive in communities where local officials delayed taking action. Residents in several towns have taken matters into their own hands by stealing, covering, or destroying the surveillance equipment to prevent cameras from capturing footage.
City leaders are now acting faster as public opposition to local surveillance grows clearer.
The Los Angeles Police Department delivered one of the biggest blows to the company by deciding to non-renew its long-standing contract.
A critical internal audit of the company’s performance drove the department’s decision. Investigators found that Flock’s license plate readers generated 161 false stolen-vehicle alerts in just two months. That created a false-positive rate of 32.3 percent.
With privacy debates expanding nationwide, industry analysts expect more local governments to reconsider their surveillance contracts in the months ahead.
