Key facts
- A YouGov survey of 20,000 people found 46% of Americans oppose Flock's license plate reader cameras.
- 38% of respondents supported the cameras, a decrease from the previous year.
- Most respondents indicated the cameras do not make them feel safer.
- Flock has faced controversy over alleged police misuse of its surveillance technology.
- Dozens of communities have rejected Flock's cameras or canceled contracts due to privacy concerns.
A new survey indicates a growing public opposition to police surveillance cameras, specifically those operated by Flock. The YouGov survey of 20,000 individuals across the U.S. found that 46% of respondents opposed the use of Flock's license plate reader cameras in their communities, while only 38% supported them. This marks a significant shift from the previous year, when a majority of respondents favored the technology.
The survey also revealed that most Americans do not feel safer with these surveillance systems in place. Flock, which operates over 120,000 license plate readers nationwide, has been at the center of controversy due to reports of police misusing the cameras' capabilities. This has led to numerous communities rejecting the technology or terminating contracts amid mounting privacy concerns.
In response to the backlash and increased vandalism targeting its cameras, Flock CEO Garrett Langley recently called for a "compromise" between surveillance needs and privacy rights. However, critics like the ACLU have dismissed the company's newly implemented safeguards as inadequate, asserting that Flock continues to pose a substantial threat to civil liberties.