Key facts
- Tempe has shut down its Flock license plate reader system.
- The city cited privacy concerns and the risk of misuse as reasons for the decision.
- Tempe will not seek a replacement system from another provider.
- The city operated 33 Flock cameras, which police used for investigations.
- Tempe joins a growing list of cities that have ended contracts with Flock.
Tempe, Arizona, has discontinued its use of Flock Safety license plate readers, citing significant privacy concerns and the potential for misuse. The city announced on Wednesday that it would not replace the system, marking a departure from its previous reliance on the technology for police investigations.
Mayor Corey Woods stated that while the cameras had aided police work, the risk of misuse was too substantial to maintain public trust. The city's police department confirmed that monthly audits had not revealed any improper searches of its Flock system. However, a neighboring city, Apache Junction, recently placed an officer on administrative leave due to accusations of using the Flock system to track his wife.
Flock's technology, which includes over 80,000 cameras nationwide, captures license plate numbers and vehicle characteristics. While law enforcement agencies utilize the system to identify vehicles and locate suspects, it has faced increasing scrutiny. Tempe is now among a growing number of municipalities, including Los Angeles, Mountain View, and Santa Cruz, that have ended or suspended contracts with Flock due to privacy issues and data-sharing concerns with federal agencies.