ToplineLawmakers are opening investigations, cities are walking away from contracts and cameras designed to watch drivers are increasingly being watched—and vandalized—themselves as nationwide skepticism of Flock cameras, a network of license plate readers, intensifies amid concerns of a growing “surveillance state.” Protesters rally against the use of Flock cameras on Friday, April 3, 2026, outside city hall in Troy, N.Y.Times Union via Getty ImagesKey FactsSen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), chair of Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism, said this week he will launch an investigation into Flock Safety's AI-powered cameras, specifically focused on the "collection, retention and dissemination of the data” they collect. In a letter to Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley, Hawley said Congress "never authorized the network your industry has built" and referenced several instances of Flock's technology being misused or its data widely shared. The news came the same day Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for legislative action to curb the 7,000 to 10,000 automated license plate readers in his state, which he said are "out of control" and leading the country down a path to become a surveillance state. The town council of Christiansburg, Virginia voted on Tuesday to end its contract with Flock Safety and remove the cameras at the “earliest convenience,” as did local government bodies in New Bedford, Mass; Asheville, N.C.; Saint Paul, Minn; and Oviedo, Fla. TANGENTIn some places, residents are taking matters into their own hands. A Dallas police sergeant this week said at least 25 of the city’s 650 Flock cameras have been vandalized, and a surge of similar incidents have been reported in Detroit and Savannah, Georgia, among other cities. People in Florida and Michigan have been charged with felonies for damaging the cameras, destruction of which can carry hefty penalties due to their high cost and their classification as police or government property. “How-to” videos online are showing people how to disable the cameras, and others are choosing to smash or rip them down altogether. SURPRISING FACTA hatred of Flock cameras seems to be bipartisan. People from all walks of life—from college students to a U.S. Air Force engineer—have been accused of vandalizing the devices, and both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern. CRUCIAL QUOTE "There’s cameras everywhere, people know that, but if law enforcement has the ability to monitor the comings and goings of citizens, I think that's wrong,” Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) told Fox News. “I mean, we're not the (Chinese Communist Party), we're not ‘1984’ and an Orwellian society, and Americans have rights.” BIG NUMBERMore than 120,000. That’s how many Flock Safety cameras are set up on roads across the U.S. They each scan license plates billions of times per month.Key backgroundGeorgia-based Flock Safety was founded by Langley, Paige Todd and Matt Feury, all of whom retain significant ownership stakes, and its investors include billionaire-led Andreessen Horowitz, Tiger Global and Bedrock Capital. Flock’s cameras are what’s known as automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, which capture vehicle movement data. They record state, plate numbers and missing or altered plates on cars that drive by, and use artificial intelligence to log the make, model, color and type of vehicle. They can also detect anomalies on cars—like roof racks, toolboxes, bumper stickers and scratches—and log the exact timestamp and direction of travel for each car in the vicinity, essentially creating a seamless surveillance web. They’re usually pitched to communities as a hyper-local police tool aimed at catching neighborhood car thieves or finding missing people, but have instead created a searchable digital footprint across an entire network of jurisdictions. There’s also increasing evidence of the data being misused. Earlier this month a researcher discovered Flock data is being shared with more than 400 organizations across Illinois, including municipal police departments, county sheriffs, universities, park districts and state agencies. Recent audits in states like Georgia have led to criminal charges against officers and deputies for allegedly using plate-reader networks to stalk ex-partners, track personal acquaintances or spy on neighbors.CHIEF CRITICSCivil liberties organizations, privacy advocates, legal scholars, and local activist groups argue Flock cameras, and others like them, are an invasive violation of privacy that threaten Americans’ fundamental rights. Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation have filed lawsuits over Fourth Amendment concerns. Local groups are leading campaigns in their communities with slogans like "Flock off" and "Get the Flock out." ​​Independent investigators are working to raise public awareness about surveillance risks, and one created a website called “Have I Been Flocked?” that allows people to search their own information and determine if they're in the company's database. CONTRAProponents of the cameras include law enforcement agencies, neighborhood associations and local business coalitions, who say they’re a critical tool for modern safety. Community boards, like the Lakeshore Homes Association in Oakland, California, have actively petitioned for and funded the purchase of Flock cameras to secure their neighborhoods. Urban business groups and private companies have said they hope the cameras will combat smash-and-grab retail theft and car theft, and law enforcement agencies have pointed out an estimated 70% of crimes involve a car. By alerting police in real time when a stolen car, wanted suspect or Amber Alert vehicle passes a camera, they can help police locate suspects before they leave the area. further readingForbes'Have I Been Flocked' Researcher Says Over 400 Illinois Agencies Have Surveillance Network AccessBy Mary Whitfill RoeloffsForbesFlock’s AI Cameras Are Watching Cars All Over America. They’re About To Get A Lot More Powerful.By Thomas BrewsterForbesAI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In AmericaBy Thomas Brewster