LAPD Suspends Flock License Plate Cameras Over Data Control

The Los Angeles Police Department has suspended its use of Flock Safety's automated license plate reader cameras, citing unresolved questions about data ownership and sharing practices that the department says must be addressed before the technology can continue operating in the city.

The suspension took effect Saturday as the LAPD's three-year agreement with Flock, signed in July 2023, reached its expiration date. The decision affects 138 pole-mounted cameras that authorities have used to track stolen vehicles and locate fugitives, according to details first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The data control dispute

Dean Gialamas, LAPD's chief information officer, told news outlets that the core issue centers on contractual clarity around data governance. "The sticking point is around having very clear terms about who owns the data, what happens with the data once they collect it," Gialamas said. He indicated the department would not resume using Flock technology until privacy, security, and data-sharing terms are formalized through a binding contract.

The timing coincides with an inspector general audit released Friday that examined the LAPD's broader use of automatic license plate readers over a two-month period in 2025. Inspector General Matthew Barragan's report recommended suspending deployment of new readers and execution of new contracts until enforceable requirements governing data security, privacy, access controls, retention, and auditing are established.

The audit found that while three vendors provide technology and services to the LAPD, "the department does not have formal contracts or agreements in place for all services to address [automatic license plate reader] data-security, privacy, and access-control requirements."

Federal data sharing concerns

Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company that contracts with roughly 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, has faced scrutiny over reports that license plate data has been shared with federal authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advocacy groups have raised concerns that such information could support immigration enforcement operations.

In Northern California, Mountain View terminated its Flock contract after officials announced that federal and state agencies had accessed city data in violation of local policies. The city turned off its 30 Flock cameras in February.

A Flock spokesperson called the LAPD's decision a "surprise" and characterized the department's concerns as "misconceptions." The company maintains that its technology complies with California law limiting information sharing with federal authorities and that it supports "strong privacy protections" and oversight.

Why it matters

The LAPD operates one of the nation's largest automated license plate reader networks, with 248 pole-mounted cameras, 140 vehicle-mounted cameras, 1,500 in-vehicle cameras, and seven mobile trailer cameras. The suspension highlights a growing tension between law enforcement agencies seeking surveillance capabilities and municipalities demanding contractual accountability for how private vendors handle sensitive location data. As cities nationwide deploy similar technology, the LAPD's insistence on enforceable data governance terms could establish a precedent for vendor agreements.

In late May, Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion asking the Board of Police Commissioners to refrain from entering new agreements with Flock or its affiliates. Privacy advocacy group Stop LAPD Spying sued the city in May to obtain Flock agreements, prompting document releases.

The Los Angeles city attorney's office has been working on a new contract, though the status of those negotiations remains unclear following the suspension announcement.

Details of the suspension and audit findings were first reported by the Los Angeles Times.