In August 2026, a record number of US cities and counties terminated contracts with surveillance company Flock Safety amid rising worries about privacy, data misuse, and police abuse.
- 214 US localities canceled Flock contracts since 2021, 90 in August 2026 alone
- Concerns include surveillance overreach, data sharing, and law enforcement abuses
- Flock reports more new city partnerships in 2026 but faces growing bipartisan scrutiny
What happened
An anti-surveillance group, Secure Justice, revealed that 214 cities and counties in the US have ended contracts with Flock Safety since 2021. Notably, 90 of these cancellations occurred in August 2026, marking a fourfold increase from the previous month and averaging three terminations per day. This rapid escalation points to a growing backlash against Flock’s surveillance technologies, which utilize AI-powered license plate readers and cameras installed in public areas.
The terminations span a diverse range of locations, including cities like Lansing, Michigan, and Pflugerville, Texas. Local officials and privacy advocates cite multiple reasons for dropping Flock, such as concerns over intrusive surveillance practices, unauthorized data sharing, high costs, and documented instances of law enforcement misconduct using the technology. These trends suggest a broad reconsideration of public safety technologies that employ AI and automated data collection.
Why it matters
The surge in contract cancellations signifies a critical public and political response to the rapid expansion of surveillance technology in communities. Flock’s systems, originally promoted as tools to enhance safety, have sparked fears about mass surveillance and potential abuses. The emergence of AI capabilities to search for keywords and individuals in real time has intensified concerns about privacy infringements and profiling, drawing attention from civil liberties groups and lawmakers alike.
These developments have prompted bipartisan scrutiny of Flock Safety’s data practices. Notable political figures, including Senator Josh Hawley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have publicly questioned the company’s surveillance reach and documented incidents of police using the technology improperly—such as tracking individuals for personal reasons. This scrutiny highlights the complex challenges of balancing public safety, privacy rights, and the regulation of emerging AI surveillance tools.
What to watch next
Flock Safety maintains it continues to expand its client base, with more new city partnerships outpacing cancellations by roughly 10 to 1 in 2026. The company has announced privacy-focused changes, including reducing data retention periods and updating terms of use to forbid misuse by customers. Despite these efforts, the backlash illustrates the difficult path surveillance technology providers face when addressing public and regulatory concerns.
Going forward, the landscape of municipal surveillance is likely to be shaped by ongoing investigations, legislation, and community demands for oversight and transparency. Monitoring how regulations evolve, how cities balance security and privacy, and the potential emergence of alternative technologies will be crucial in understanding the future of AI-enabled public safety surveillance in the United States.