Flock Safety Faces Vandalism and Contract Cancellations Over Surveillance

The security technology startup Flock Safety is facing widespread bipartisan opposition and a surge in contract cancellations as it expands its network of 120,000 automated license plate readers across 6,000 communities. More than 100 municipalities have ended their contracts since 2021, with a significant increase in cancellations occurring in July 2026. Cities including Denver and Lago Vista, Texas, have terminated their agreements amid concerns over Fourth Amendment violations and reports of police misuse, including officers tracking personal acquaintances.

In Summit County, Colorado, the Sheriff's Office is investigating the vandalism of nine cameras between early and mid-August. The damaged equipment was located near Wildernest and Summit Cove, coinciding with a local petition gathering over 740 signatures to re-evaluate the technology. Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons is scheduled to address these concerns at a community forum on September 10 in Frisco.

Critics highlight the danger of erroneous alerts, noting incidents in Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin where innocent drivers were detained at gunpoint. In Roseville, California, over 70 percent of felony-linked alerts were found to be incorrect. In response, CEO Garrett Langley announced that starting January 1, law enforcement customers must use an auditing tool to link searches to case codes. The company is also reducing its default data-retention period from 30 days to seven days. Meanwhile, the company is developing OS Investigate, an AI tool that integrates camera data with 911 logs and commercial databases.