Flock camera map: Check your neighborhood for devices

Key Points:

• Flock Safety's automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are increasingly scrutinized as a widespread surveillance tool, with over 120,000 cameras deployed across 49 U.S. states.
• DeFlock Maps, a crowdsourced app powered by OpenStreetMap, enables users to locate ALPR devices in their neighborhoods, promoting transparency by mapping over 128,000 devices, 82% of which are Flock cameras.
• The app relies on volunteer contributions and does not collect user data beyond what is voluntarily uploaded to OpenStreetMap, aiming to increase public awareness and accountability regarding surveillance infrastructure.
• Flock cameras are used by police, businesses, schools, and homeowners associations to capture detailed vehicle information, raising privacy concerns and leading to incidents such as mass theft of devices in some communities.
• DeFlock Maps highlights the rapid expansion of mass surveillance without widespread public consent, advocating transparency as a crucial step toward accountability in monitoring practices.