# Local Governments Increasingly Terminate Contracts with Flock Surveillance Technology Growing public concern over privacy and data misuse triggers widespread municipal pushback against surveillance. - **Source:** [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/aa8ecea0-9fa1-4f87-ad52-db8a13c1e4f4 ## Rising Municipal Backlash At least ten local governments across the United States have moved to terminate or restrict their contracts with Flock Safety since this summer. Cities including Monroe, Ohio, and Newburgh, New York, are among those ending partnerships. This trend reflects a broader public skepticism toward the rapid adoption of advanced AI-powered surveillance technologies. ## Technology and Capabilities Founded in 2017, Flock provides surveillance tools such as license plate readers, drones, and microphone-based edge-computing devices designed to detect gunshots. These systems are utilized by over 100,000 cameras nationwide to assist law enforcement in solving crimes. Despite these functional benefits, the visibility of these sensors has made them a focal point for privacy. ## Privacy and Misuse Concerns Public opposition stems from fears regarding data privacy, procurement transparency, and potential misuse. Notable incidents include officers in Missouri and Texas using the technology to stalk individuals. Furthermore, concerns have surfaced regarding unauthorized access to data by federal agencies, such as ICE and the ATF, leading to resolutions in cities like Ithaca, New York. ## Company Response and Adjustments Flock maintains that its technology is essential for public safety and denies selling data or holding contracts with ICE. In response to mounting pressure, the company reduced its default data storage period from 30 days to seven. Additionally, agencies are now required to provide a specific case code before searching the company's database. ## Lack of Public Oversight Critics, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, argue that many police departments adopted these systems without sufficient public warning or city council oversight. In South Windsor, Connecticut, cameras were deployed without a public vote. Grassroots activists are now pressuring city councils to exercise their procurement power to refuse funding for these surveillance tools. ## Varied Local Approaches Not all municipalities are abandoning the technology entirely. Cleveland, Ohio, extended its contract but implemented stricter limitations, such as restricting database access solely to local police and cutting off federal intelligence agencies. Many cities are currently reviewing requests for proposals from alternative vendors to find a balance between public safety and civil liberties. ## Federal Legislative Action The debate has reached the federal level, with lawmakers introducing measures to curb the use of such surveillance. Rep. Thomas Massie introduced the Flock-Off Act to bar federal funding for these systems, while Sen. Bernie Sanders and others proposed the Ban Flock Act. These legislative efforts highlight the growing political intensity surrounding AI-powered surveillance. ## Future of Surveillance Policy Surveillance technology remains a contentious political issue as communities demand greater control over the trade-offs between security and privacy. While some officials, including President Trump, have expressed support for the tools, public sentiment remains divided. The ongoing shift suggests that future procurement will require significantly higher levels of transparency and public accountability. ## Sources covering this story - https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/05/at-least-10-local-governments-have-moved-to-drop-flocks-surveillance-cameras-since-summer/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._