Technology
Tempe disables Flock license plate readers over privacy and misuse concerns
Arizona city deactivates 33 surveillance cameras, citing potential misuse risks despite finding no local violations during internal audits.
The short version
- Tempe, Arizona, has turned off its network of 33 Flock Safety license plate readers and plans to terminate its contract with the vendor.
- City officials stated they will not replace the surveillance system with a technology alternative from another provider.
- Although local police audits found no improper system use, municipal leadership cited privacy concerns and reported misuse elsewhere as key reasons for the decision.
Key facts
- Tempe deactivated its network of 33 Flock Safety license plate readers and intends to cancel its contract with the company.[Business Insider]
- Mayor Corey Woods stated that the potential for system misuse outweighs its benefits and that Tempe will not replace it with another vendor's technology.[Business Insider]
- Monthly audits by Tempe police found no evidence of unauthorized or improper searches within the city's system.[Business Insider]
- In nearby Apache Junction, an officer was placed on administrative leave after allegations surfaced that he used the Flock system to monitor his spouse.[Business Insider]
- Existing records from Tempe's cameras are routinely deleted after 30 days unless linked to an active police investigation.[Business Insider]
- Tempe joins several other municipalities—including Los Angeles, Flagstaff, and Mountain View—that have ended, paused, or let contracts expire with Flock.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- The exact timeline for Flock Safety to physically remove the deactivated camera hardware from Tempe streets remains unspecified.[Business Insider]