Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsWorldFlock licence plate cameras face growing backlash from privacy activists across U.S.Opponents are outraged at what they say is a dangerous tool that can be used to infringe on privacy and civil libertiesAuthor of the article:Last updated 5 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.A Flock camera is seen in the Los Angeles suburbs. Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN /GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/FileIn only a few years, the surveillance start-up Flock has installed more than 100,000 licence plate reader cameras across the United States.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorBut a grassroots movement upset over privacy concerns is fighting back — even going so far as systematically vandalizing the equipment.The first time he decided to trash one of the cameras, a self-styled vigilante wearing all black and known as Nomark says he was “super nervous.”Now, after disabling about 30 of the devices near his home in the Minneapolis area, he told AFP: “I’m not really as scared anymore.”Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againFlock cameras are installed by police departments, homeowners’ associations and businesses, ostensibly to catch criminals in the act. Data is uploaded to Flock’s cloud and can be shared with subscribers.But opponents are outraged at what they say is a dangerous tool that can be used to infringe on American privacy and civil liberties.At just 20 years old, Nomark offers his 500,000 Instagram followers a how-to guide for rendering the cameras useless, raising awareness about the devices.His detractors point out — correctly — that his actions are illegal, but like-minded individuals have followed suit nationwide over the past few weeks.Instead of being dismissed as a radical fringe outfit, the anti-Flock movement is taking hold.Its proponents have been active online for months, creating crowdsourced maps of cameras, sharing ways to block their lenses, and hailing the “heroes” who are arrested for destroying them.The Facebook group DeFlock America has more than 600,000 members, and is gaining thousands more by the day.Massive databaseFlock cameras differ from traditional surveillance cameras in that they do not record video footage.Instead, they take still images of vehicles, capturing the make, model, colour, licence plate data and other distinguishing features such as bumper stickers. Opponents say the cameras, which capture licence plate numbers and other features of vehicles, are infringing on their civil liberties. Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN /GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/FileAnd unlike classic surveillance cameras, which are not networked, this data is stored for up to a month and shareable, sometimes across state lines.Opponents say this gives police an overwhelming look into the private lives of law-abiding Americans.Jon Bridges, a police official in Virginia’s state capital Richmond, says that for “practically any crime that has a connection with a vehicle or a vehicle involved, we will at least query the database to see if there’s anything there.”His department has used Flock since 2023.Bridges gave an example of how useful the technology can be: during the investigation of a domestic-related double homicide in May, police quickly identified a suspect who fled the scene in his pick-up truck.Detectives retrieved his licence plate data and entered an alert in Flock’s system. When he appeared on another camera, officers in a neighbouring county arrested him.Potential abusesDetractors fear that this allows officers to track vehicles without warrants, opening the door to a host of possible abuses of power.According to an investigation done by The Washington Post, at least 50 police officers have been accused of misusing the Flock system, most of them to spy on the comings and goings of their romantic partners or exes.In other cases reported in U.S. media, cops used Flock to track women who had abortions — illegal in several U.S. states. Some illegally sent data from the system to immigration agents.Flock CEO Garrett Langley has accused some opponents of being “terrorists,” stoking the fire.“There is really an incredible grassroots movement against Flock,” said Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, calling its growth “stunning.”The movement has support on both the political left and right, notably from libertarians.Former Fox News host and conservative heavyweight Tucker Carlson has called the vandals “decent, patriotic Americans” who are simply “taking matters into their own hands.”Across the country, local groups are pushing their lawmakers to step back from Flock.Steven Keener, a professor of criminology at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, said residents can meet with city council members or mayors to convince them to cancel their contracts with the surveillance company.So far, such grassroots efforts are proving successful.From Los Angeles to small towns in Virginia, more than 70 municipalities have ended their association with Flock in recent months, according to an ACLU tally.For Keener, the movement stands out in a country riven by political divisions.‘Because decisions are at the local level, people realize that they can actually make a difference,” he told AFP.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.