Flock Safety Changes Privacy Policies As Oklahoma Cities Reevaluate Contracts
- mike33692
- Aug 17
- 2 min read
Flock Safety Changes Privacy Policies As Oklahoma Cities Reevaluate Contracts
The Flock Safety camera network is facing increased scrutiny after the company's CEO apologized for documented cases of law enforcement misuse, prompting new privacy safeguards while several Oklahoma communities reconsider their contracts with the automated license plate reader provider.
Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley announced a series of policy changes after an investigative report identified 46 cases of police misuse involving the company's license plate reader technology. At the same time, cities across Oklahoma are pausing, modifying or ending agreements with Flock Safety amid growing concerns about privacy, surveillance and Fourth Amendment protections.
Flock Safety Announces New Privacy Safeguards
The company says it is implementing several new measures designed to prevent unauthorized use of its nationwide license plate reader network.
Among the biggest changes, Flock Safety is reducing its default data retention period from 30 days to seven days, unless information is preserved as part of an active criminal investigation.
Officers using the system will also be required to enter a valid case number before conducting searches, while new automated monitoring tools will flag unusual search activity and temporarily suspend users suspected of misusing the system.
The policy changes were announced by Flock Safety following public criticism over how automated license plate reader data has been accessed and stored.
Civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU, continue to argue that widespread use of automated license plate readers raises significant privacy concerns because the technology can track vehicle movements without a warrant.
Oklahoma Communities Reevaluate Camera Programs
Several Oklahoma cities have already begun changing their approach to Flock Safety.
In Coweta, Police Chief Mike Bell requested removal of the city's Flock cameras and declined to renew the contract for the 2027 fiscal year after residents raised concerns about privacy and government surveillance.
Meanwhile, the Broken Arrow Police Department has stated that the city does not own or operate any city-funded Flock cameras.
In Oklahoma City, council members have repeatedly delayed action on a proposed $270,000 contract renewal while drafting new restrictions governing how license plate reader data may be used.
Information about Oklahoma City's public meetings and contract discussions is available through the City of Oklahoma City.
State Lawmakers Also Reviewing Technology
The debate over automated license plate readers is now expanding beyond city governments.
State lawmakers are pursuing an interim legislative study to evaluate whether Oklahoma needs additional statewide privacy protections governing automated license plate reader systems.
Among the proposed local safeguards under discussion are prohibiting the use of Flock data for federal immigration enforcement, withdrawing from the company's nationwide data-sharing network and strengthening internal accountability for officers who misuse the technology.
Legislative information regarding interim studies and future proposals is maintained through the Oklahoma State Legislature as lawmakers continue examining how emerging surveillance technology should be regulated.
As more communities weigh the benefits of crime-fighting technology against concerns over privacy and civil liberties, the future of automated license plate readers in Oklahoma is likely to remain an active public policy debate.
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