US towns cancel Flock license‑plate reader contracts, data retention unclear

Demonstrators gathered outside the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Sept. 2, 2026, holding a banner that read “No to Flock cameras,” a visual reminder of a growing backlash against the company’s AI‑enabled license‑plate readers. The protest reflects a broader wave of municipal action, as local governments from Florida to Washington state have announced the termination of contracts with Flock amid mounting public concern over the technology’s privacy implications.

While several jurisdictions have moved to cancel their agreements, officials caution that the removal of the devices does not guarantee immediate deletion of the data already captured. Many of the contracts allow Flock to retain collected information for extended periods, and the terms vary widely between municipalities. As state and local authorities reassess their surveillance strategies, the fate of the existing databases remains uncertain, prompting calls for clearer regulations on data handling and potential legislative oversight.