Why US cities are ‘not happy’ with these AI cameras that can read licence plates

An increasing number of US cities have reportedly begun to push back against AI-powered licence plate reader technology. According to a Financial Times report, at least 53 cities in 20 states have begun deactivating or rejecting the technology due to concerns about surveillance and data use.

The backlash against the said technology appears to have been sparked by the Flock Safety camera network. This network has become the focal point of discussions on policing, immigration, and surveillance.Local authorities and privacy advocates have argued that the said technology, which uses licence plates and other visual markers to identify cars, has facilitated the development of a far-reaching surveillance network.

This issue appears to have gained traction owing to concerns about the potential usage of the data by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement in immigration raids against undocumented immigrants.The controversy has intensified in recent months, with 38 cities opting out of Flock’s systems in the past six months alone, the FT report notes. The debate extends beyond local governments, as civil liberties groups and activists question how far AI-driven policing should go.

How Flock’s AI-powered licence plate reader systems work

Flock’s cameras use AI to capture and analyse vehicle data, including licence plates and distinguishing features like bumper stickers. This information is then cross-checked against law enforcement databases to generate real-time alerts. The system relies on cloud infrastructure and a network of both public and private cameras, allowing authorities to access data across jurisdictions.The company said it has more than 12,000 corporate customers, including nearly 6,000 law enforcement agencies.

It also stated that it has no direct contracts with ICE and that customers control who can access their data. Following criticism, Flock restricted immigration-related searches and barred federal agencies from its lookup tools last year.Critics argue that the network's scale and connectivity raise concerns about mass surveillance. Jay Stanley from the American Civil Liberties Union told FT, “The company’s machines are placed all across a nation and all the reads are sent to centralised servers operated by the company, and that makes it a much more powerful technology than it was before.”Privacy groups and local campaigners have increasingly lobbied city councils to reconsider contracts. Dave Maass from the Electronic Frontier Foundation said that urging cities to withdraw is an “opportunity to affect change on a local level as a form of resistance against Border Patrol, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security”.Concerns have also been amplified by public incidents and online discussions, where reports of alleged misuse have circulated.

The cameras, which are often mounted on poles with visible solar panels, have become a visible symbol of the broader debate.

What Flock said about its AI-powered licence plate reader systems

Flock has defended its technology, stating that it is designed to support public safety while giving customers control over data access. “It is a frustrating thing to have so much attention directed at us, specifically when the underlying issues have nothing to do with our technology or our company,” Dan Haley, Flock’s chief legal officer, told FT.The company has also pointed to safeguards, including restrictions on certain types of searches and the ability for local agencies to manage data-sharing permissions.Law enforcement officials have also backed the use of licence plate readers. Billy Grogan, a former police chief in Dunwoody, Georgia, said, “It’s been a game-changer for us. We’ve been able to solve hundreds, if not thousands, of crimes that otherwise would remain unsolved if it wasn’t for the LPR technology.”The pushback comes even as investment in law enforcement technology continues to rise. Funding for US public safety startups reached $1.79 billion last year, up from $552 million in 2024, according to Crunchbase. Flock has achieved over $300 million in recurring revenue each year and is growing in related markets, such as drones and gunshot detection. Competitors like Motorola Solutions and Axon Enterprise are also in this business, which shows the growing interest in AI-based policing.The controversy over Flock is just a part of the national debate over balancing individual privacy with the need to keep people safe. While law enforcement officials point to the effectiveness of these products in solving crimes, there is little evidence to support the claim that licence plate readers actually lower crime rates.Flock’s chief legal officer suggested the debate may evolve over time. “We believe when this present political moment passes, the attention will return to the very rational trade-off between the public safety and government authority and surveillance,” Haley added.As cities reconsider their use of AI surveillance tools, the outcome could shape how such technologies are deployed and regulated across the US.