The Los Angeles Police Department has suspended its use of surveillance cameras from Flock Safety, letting the department’s three-year contract with the controversial company expire. The decision, reported by Engadget, comes after city officials raised concerns about data privacy, third-party sharing, and security vulnerabilities in the camera network.
LAPD chose not to renew its contract with Flock Safety over data privacy and sharing concerns. (Image: WebTechExperts / Pixabay)
A Network of 138 Cameras
Flock Safety operated 138 cameras across Los Angeles, primarily used for automated license plate recognition. The technology was intended to help law enforcement locate stolen vehicles and track cars belonging to fugitives. But over the course of the three-year deal, questions mounted about how Flock handled the sensitive data its cameras collected.
Data Sharing with Federal Agencies
The central issue that led to the contract’s expiration was Flock’s data-sharing practices. According to LAPD Chief Information Officer Dean Gialamas, the department had concerns about “who owns the data, what happens with the data once they collect it.” Despite California state laws restricting what data companies can share with government agencies, Flock reportedly shared its license plate data with state and federal authorities — including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Broader Privacy and Security Concerns
Beyond the data-sharing questions, Flock’s camera systems have also faced scrutiny over cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Multiple security flaws have been exposed in the company’s products, raising additional doubts about whether the surveillance network could be trusted to protect the information it captures. The combination of privacy and security issues ultimately made the contract untenable in the eyes of LA officials.
What Happens Next
The LAPD has stated it will stop using Flock cameras until it can negotiate clearer contractual terms around data ownership, privacy, and security. The department has not ruled out renewing its relationship with Flock in the future if those concerns are addressed in a new agreement. Meanwhile, the decision places Los Angeles at the center of a growing national debate about the role of private surveillance technology in public law enforcement.