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Real-Time Policing in Action with Flock Safety
| The City of Auburn operates nine ALPRs with
Flock Safety According to the Auburn Police Department Transparency Portal on Flock's website. As of Dec 22, 2025, the vast majority of information on the transparency portal has been removed. However, a partial screenshot from Nov 25, 2025, is included below and shows the organizations that are granted access to Auburn ME PD data, the number of cameras, and the number of license plates recorded over the past 30 days: over 186,000 vehicles. https://www.aclumaine.org/publications/license-plate-readers-and-public-surveillance/
FACTS / TIMELINE / UPDATES / BLOG
03/02/2026: The City Council
has decided that the Flock Cameras will move forward as part of budget
discussions with a full presentation to the public and opportunity for
public comment
02/2026 - Awaiting responses... 02/2026 - No response to my inquiry with the CIty Manager on if this will be an agenda item, when this will be presented, or if it is to be an agenda item included in a broader presentation. 02/2026 - Inquired of CIty Council again on the question of if these Flock cameras will be an agenda item or part of the broader budget discussion.. 01/2026 - Inquired of CIty Councilor. Confirmed that this has not been discussed with the council. According to the CIty Manager, a "Presentation will be presented during budget season". No word on if this will be a specific agenda item or to be included in a broader budget discussion 12/2025 - Flock cameras started to appear in Auburn on the website deflock.me 11/2025 - Lewiston approves Flock cameras 10/2025 - Sanford rescinds authorization |
| WHY
YOU SHOULD OPPOSE FLOCK CAMERAS |
LOCAL MEDIA REPORTS |
MORE INFORMATION |
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Consumer Rights Wiki -
Flock Safety Across the US, people are dismantling and destroying Flock surveillance cameras Anger over ICE connections and privacy violations is fueling the sabotage. PLUS: 10,000 drivers call on Uber to repay stolen wages, a man is arrested at a public hearing about a data center and more. They call them ALPR's or Automatic License Plate Readers. From FlockSafety.com... No Plate? No Problem. Capture more detail with Vehicle Fingerprint and Flock FreeForm . Turn images into actionable evidence no plate required. With billions of monthly plate reads, Flock connects communities, businesses and law enforcement in a shared network built to stop crime. AI Overview Opposition to Flock Safety cameras and similar Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) often focuses on civil liberties, the creation of mass surveillance networks, and questions about effectiveness. Key talking points against the implementation of these cameras include: 1. Privacy and Civil Liberties Concerns Mass
Surveillance Dragnet: Cameras create a permanent, searchable
record of the movements of law-abiding citizens, not just criminals,
transforming public space into a tracked, monitored zone.
"Vehicle Fingerprinting": Beyond just license plates, Flock cameras log vehicle make, model, color, and unique features (dents, bumper stickers), allowing for more detailed tracking. Fourth Amendment Issues: Critics argue that warrantless, continuous tracking by a network of cameras violates constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure, with some courts comparing them to placing GPS trackers on every vehicle. Chilling Effect on Speech: The data can be, and has been, used to monitor political protests and demonstrations, potentially intimidating people from exercising their First Amendment rights. 2. Data Misuse and "Surveillance Creep" Sharing with Federal Agencies: Despite marketing to local communities, data is often accessible to state, local, and federal agencies (including ICE and Border Patrol), causing concerns about immigration enforcement and tracking people across state lines. Targeting Reproductive Healthcare: Evidence suggests cameras have been used to track individuals seeking reproductive healthcare or gender-affirming care. Lack of Oversight: Many cities have installed these cameras without public consultation, council approval, or clear, transparent policies regarding data retention and access. 3. Questionable Efficacy and Bias Mixed Results on Crime Reduction: Research on whether surveillance cameras actually reduce crime is mixed, with some studies showing they do not consistently decrease crime rates. Reinforcing Racial Bias: Studies have shown that ALPR data can reflect and amplify existing policing biases, with significantly higher stop rates for minority drivers in some areas. "False Sense of Security": Critics argue that funds spent on these systems would be better invested in community-led safety initiatives, which have shown more significant results in reducing violence. 4. Technical and Security Weaknesses Vulnerability to Hacks: Researchers have found significant vulnerabilities in Flock hardware, noting that cameras could be exploited by hackers to turn them into personal spy devices, steal login credentials, or access administrative data. Insecure Data Storage: The aggregation of millions of data points creates a massive security target, making the database a prime target for breaches. 5. Financial and Accountability Issues "Privatize Profits, Socialize Costs": Taxpayers bear the cost of purchasing, installing, and managing these systems, while the private company profits. Liability Risk: If the technology leads to false accusations or unlawful arrests, municipalities may be held liable, forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for legal action. These concerns have led at least 30 cities and municipalities to cancel their contracts with Flock Safety since the beginning of 2025. |
WGME:
A digital trail: Inside the growing use of Flock cameras by Maine
police SunJournal: Lewiston has begun trial use of AI-enabled surveillance cameras PressHerald: Maine towns are installing AI-enabled surveillance systems despite privacy concerns PressHerald: Sanford City Council reverses course on AI-enabled roadside cameras WMTW: More Maine communities using AI-powered traffic cameras to help catch criminals CentralMaine: Surveillance cameras leave Lewiston open to liability nightmare CitizenPortal: Lewiston resident urges pause and audit of Flock Safety license‑plate cameras over privacy and data‑security concerns Privacy advocates share concerns about police cameras in South Portland NPR: Why some cities are ditching their Flock license plate readers |
Lewiston PD presentation
10/21/2025, Sgt. Joey Brown alpr.watch Flock Safety
Transparency Portal - Auburn, ME 11.07.2025 Auburn FOAA Request re Flock Agreement (pdf) 11.25.25 - Auburn ME PD - partial screenshot of transparency portal (pdf) 06.25.25
Sole Source Letter - South Portland PD, Auburn PD, Brunswick PD, York PD
(pdf) |
