The Cato Institute
Below is a curated listing of articles and news items that have been published on the topic of ALPR's and surveillance.
Franklin Residents Renew Flock Challenge, Call for Contract Termination and Independent Review
Malik A. Lyons | TAPinto Franklin
SOMERSET, NJ — Opposition to Franklin Township’s use of Flock automated license plate readers continued Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Municipal Building, where residents returned with questions about the technology’s capabilities, camera locations and data retention and renewed calls for the township to terminate its contract.
Unlike earlier meetings, where officials provided lengthy responses about the system, Mayor Phil Kramer kept the township’s response brief Tuesday, saying officials continue to review information submitted by residents before making any decisions.
Five Indianapolis police officers accused of abusing Flock license plate readers
Molly Parks | Washington Examiner
An Indiana county prosecutor has charged five current and former Indianapolis police officers with fraud and misconduct for abusing the city’s Flock Safety automated license plate readers.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced Wednesday that an internal audit of the department’s ALPRs found that five officers misused the technology. After launching investigations into the incident and initially revoking the five officers’ access to the systems, IMPD Chief Tanya Terry suspended and recommended terminating four of the officers after one already resigned.
Flock's Gunfire Alerts Raise a New Fourth Amendment Question
Del Schlangen | Reason Magazine
Flock Safety, the main supplier of the recently controversial roadside cameras that scan passing cars, offers more than automated license plate readers (ALPRs). The company also sells a surveillance bundle of sorts called the "Safe City" subscription. Billed as Flock's "Most Complete Solution," the "Safe City" subscription includes the much-discussed ALPRs, along with a live video camera—and a gunfire microphone. Bundling these together risks turning lawful gun owners into criminal suspects based only on proximity.
It is hard to find reliable information about the number of active gunfire microphones in the United States. The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Atlas of Surveillance documents nearly 250 gunshot-detection deployments and purchase plans nationwide, although that includes programs that have since ended. Cities also have deployed firearm detection systems that rely on AI to detect visible firearms on video or combine acoustic and dual-sensor infrared cameras to detect gunshots.
Cherry Hill to end Flock camera contract
Brianna Phillips | Cherry Hill News
On Monday, September 14th, the Cherry Hill Township Council gathered for their bi-weekly caucus meeting. As per usual, the public was welcome to attend the meeting physically in the Cherry Hill Municipal Building, as well as on Zoom.
This particular meeting garnered larger public participation than usual, as numerous Cherry Hill residents had a wide variety of concerns to bring to the attention of the council.
Hackers breach Flock camera data, share findings with media
Maria Tedesco | The National News Desk
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Hackers removed a Flock camera, breached the data and shared findings with media outlets. Wired and 404 Media found that the Flock camera's software can generate dozens of images from a single vehicle.
In 21 days, the Flock camera photographed 50,200 vehicles, generating 1.6 million photos, the outlets reported. The camera picked up details on a vehicle, such as an American flag patch on a motorcyclist's bag, according to the media outlets.
Financial Surveillance in the Shadow of 9/11
Nicholas Anthony | Cato Institute
September 11 marks one of the darkest days in US history. Terrorists murdered thousands of people on American soil, put countless people in fear for their safety, and left a scar in American history that can still be felt to this day. Yet what is less known is the financial surveillance that was expanded in the wake of the attack.
The Bank Secrecy Act already required banks and other financial institutions to report their customers to the government, but Congress decided that it wanted more. In the near blink of an eye, the USA PATRIOT Act was signed into law. At the time, the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy wrote that the law “zipped through in six weeks—gutting much of the Fourth Amendment in far less time than Congress typically expends on routine bills that raise no constitutional concerns.”
DHS Unit Uses Financial Data to Flag Drivers for Traffic Stops, Report Says
SOFX
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unit analyzes Americans’ financial activity for signs of criminal activity and shares the information with local police, according to an investigation by 404 Media.
The units, known as Predictive Intelligence Targeting Teams (PITT), operate within the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), which is part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
A N.J. town was given thousands to save lives. It spent $60K on Flock cameras instead
Amira Sweilem | NJ.com
A South Jersey town spent nearly $60,000 in opioid settlement money on automated license plate readers, an apparent misuse of funds intended to help those shattered by addiction, according to experts.
From April 2025 to April 2026, Washington Township purchased 17 license plate readers and renewed or extended its contracts with Flock Safety, according to the Gloucester County township’s meeting minutes and bill lists.