Built for safety, used for surveillance: where do we draw the line?

 

Living in Missouri has long been a peaceful experience built on trust, safety, and respect for personal freedom. That sense of security is now being challenged by the growing presence of Flock cameras. Flock cameras are automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems that use networked cameras and software to scan, identify, and store vehicle license plate data for tracking and investigative purposes. You can check how many flock cameras are in your city at: Deflock.org

 

This issue is not just about technology, but about constitutional rights, including privacy, freedom of movement, and protection from unreasonable surveillance. Flock cameras collect and store data on millions of people without their knowledge or consent, tracking travel patterns and movement over time. This creates a system of mass surveillance with limited safeguards or protection.

 

Law enforcement misuse has already been documented. Within the past year alone, trust in this system has been repeatedly broken, raising concerns about ongoing and undetected abuse.

A particularly troubling incident underscores this risk. In January 2026, a Joplin police officer was expelled from the department after allegedly searching one license plate 395 times using the Flock system. This repeated misuse of power violated privacy rights and damaged public trust.

 

There are similar cases that have occurred:

• Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Feb 2026): Officer was criminally charged for using Flock cameras to track a person he was dating and that person's ex-partner 179 times over two months. The victim discovered the stalking via haveibeenflocked.com, which exposes audit logs.
• Menasha, Wisconsin (Jan 2026): Officer charged with misconduct for tracking his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle multiple times in October 2025.
• Sedgwick, Kansas (Aug 2024): Police Chief used Flock cameras 228 times to track his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend, even following them in his police car.
• Costa Mesa, California (April 2026): Former officer pleaded guilty to tracking his mistress using Flock cameras.
• Georgia (Nov 2025): Former Braselton Police Chief was arrested for using ALPR systems to stalk and harass multiple citizens.

These incidents show a clear pattern of misuse, where technology intended for safety is used for personal surveillance and harassment.

While supporters argue Flock cameras help solve crimes and locate missing children, the risks of unchecked surveillance outweigh the benefits. Hundreds of cameras create continuous monitoring of everyday people rather than targeted investigations.

 

There is also a serious lack of transparency. Most people do not know when they are recorded, how long data is stored, or who has accessed it, increasing the risk of abuse.

 

These concerns also raise Fourth Amendment issues. While a single camera captures isolated public moments, a network of cameras enables continuous tracking and long-term records of movement without a warrant or probable cause, revealing personal patterns such as where people live, work, and travel.

 

The Supreme Court recognized in Carpenter v. United States that long-term government location tracking violates reasonable expectations of privacy. Flock systems raise similar concerns and, combined with documented misuse, risk unconstitutional surveillance. This is about protecting rights, restoring trust, and preventing abuse of power.

 

Sign this petition to defend your privacy and stop further abuse of surveillance power.