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Flock keeps ignoring requests to cancel its contracts

Security1 min read

Some cities are trying to end their contracts with Flock Safety, a company that sells license plate cameras. They are finding that the company does not always follow their requests.

Cities struggle to cancel Flock contracts

Many cities are ending their deals with Flock Safety. But some are finding it hard to get the cameras removed. In Plymouth, Minnesota, the city council voted to end its contract in September. The company did not reply, so the cameras stayed on for over a month. The police chief then unplugged them himself.

Key facts from the article

  • Plymouth, Minnesota: the council voted to end the contract in September, but the cameras stayed up for over a month.
  • Dayton, Minnesota: Flock said removal could take up to 60 days.
  • Dayton: Flock turned two cameras back on without permission, even after the city told it to stop the work order.
  • Dayton and Plymouth are about 20 miles apart.

A similar problem in Illinois

A similar problem happened in Illinois. There, Flock refused to take down cameras. The company also uncovered cameras at Elgin Community College after the school's administration tried to cancel its contract.

Why this matters

These cameras read license plates and can record where cars go. When a city says stop, the cameras should stop. If a company keeps them running without permission, residents may lose trust in both the company and local leaders. It also shows how hard it can be for a city to control surveillance tools it no longer wants.

What to watch

  • Whether Flock removes the cameras in Dayton and Plymouth.
  • Whether more cities run into the same trouble when they end contracts.
  • How Flock responds. The company did not reply to a request for comment at the time of the article.

Glossary

Flock Safety
A company that sells camera systems, including license plate cameras, to cities and police.

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