Flock Faces Growing Municipal Pushback: Dozens of Contracts Canceled or Rejected

# What happened

Public opposition to widespread license-plate surveillance has accelerated in 2026. According to data compiled by the Washington Examiner, at least 54 U.S. cities have voted to cancel, decline to renew, or explicitly reject contracts with Flock for automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) since the start of the year.

Those municipal actions span 23 states. California and Wisconsin each recorded seven cancellations or rejections. New York, Washington, and Massachusetts show four each, and Virginia shows three. Earlier reporting in February noted roughly 30 cities had taken similar steps since 2025, so the pace of pushback has increased.

# Why cities moved

Municipal leaders and voters are acting in response to concerns about privacy, civil rights, and accuracy. The Los Angeles Police Department's decision not to renew its long-standing contract with Flock followed an internal audit that flagged accuracy problems: over a two-month period Flock's ALPRs triggered 161 false stolen-vehicle alerts, a 32.3% false-positive rate. That finding received significant attention and is cited as one of the higher-profile factors driving cancellation decisions.

Beyond official votes, residents frustrated with perceived government inaction have physically targeted devices by damaging, obscuring, or stealing cameras to prevent recording. Those grassroots actions reflect broader public rejection that municipal leaders are now responding to through contract decisions.

# How widespread Flock's footprint remains

# Business consequences reported elsewhere

# What this means going forward

Municipal cancellations are occurring across many states and appear to be accelerating. Accuracy problems like the LAPD audit's cited false-positive rate are a practical argument municipalities can point to when assessing contracts. Public resistance—expressed in votes and direct action against devices—adds political pressure for local leaders to reconsider surveillance agreements. At the same time, Flock's existing deployments mean the physical footprint of cameras will not disappear overnight.

Municipalities weighing similar contracts should be prepared to ask for performance audits, concrete accuracy benchmarks, data-sharing restrictions, and clear terms for device removal or deactivation if community concerns grow.