New Jersey is adding more Flock cameras — should you be worried?

🚔 Police say the cameras help recover stolen vehicles and identify suspects faster.
🔒 Privacy advocates and a state senator say New Jersey needs stronger safeguards over how license plate data is collected and shared.
⚖️ As more towns adopt Flock technology, the debate over public safety versus privacy is intensifying.

Are Flock cameras one of New Jersey's new tools in the fight against crime or an invasion of privacy?

Named after a company called Flock Safety, the cameras use automated license plate reader technology to read license plates and take video for both law enforcement and private companies like homeowner associations.

Supporters say the cameras have become an important investigative tool that helps police recover stolen vehicles and solve crimes. Critics, however, warn that New Jersey lacks clear rules governing how the data is collected, shared and used, raising concerns about privacy and government surveillance.

Their products, which also include video cameras, drones, security trailers and audio detectors,  are in use by over 5,000 law enforcement agencies and 1,000 businesses in 6,000 communities, according to their website. Their presence has also raised concerns about what happens to the data collected by Flock, how it is stored and how it is used.

Flock spokesman Josh Thomas said a common misconception is that the company's equipment tracks people wherever they go.

Instead, the cameras capture license plates and "visible vehicle characteristics" that are already visible in public. Faces are not recorded, and data is deleted after 30 days, Thomas said.

ALSO READ: Monmouth County rescue uncovered shocking animal abuse

Flock Safety license plate reader

New Jersey police say Flock technology helps solve crimes

Flock's license plate reader technology has been used in Edison since 2022, according to Police Chief Thomas Bryan. Their use has had a positive impact on law enforcement without any complaints from citizens.

"The technology has proven to be a valuable investigative resource, assisting in the recovery of stolen vehicles and the identification and apprehension of wanted individuals. It has also provided real-time information that has directly supported criminal investigations. The system has enhanced public safety for the residents of the Township of Edison," Bryan said.

Bryan said that under standards issued by the state Attorney General's office the tech is considered a public safety tool. Data can be shared among all New Jersey law enforcement agencies. A request for data must be for a "legitimate law enforcement purpose." Requests are documented and are subject to audit.

Towns using Flock tech include Brick Township and Monroe in Middlesex County.

ALSO READ: Vendor says NJ only has itself to blame for voter rule violations

Flock Safety license plate reader

Privacy concerns grow

State Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, who led the effort to eliminate red-light cameras in New Jersey, said his concern is protecting privacy and preventing government abuse of the data collected.

"If we could trust government to not abuse this information, this volume of information, I get that there could be a value to solving crimes. Problem is that we really can't trust government, and that makes these cameras problematic." O'Scanlon said.

O'Scanlon believes that speed and red-light cameras are worse than Flock technology because they can fine and punish people for "perfectly reasonable behavior." There are no regulations in New Jersey about the use of Flock technology, according to O'Scanlon. But he believes that at some point a decision will need to be made about whether or not constant surveillance is acceptable.

Civil liberties group takes aim at cameras

The ACLU opposes Flock technology, calling the devices "creepy cameras" because of what it says is a lack of transparency, oversight and regulation surrounding the data they collect. The group argues that information about visits to doctors, houses of worship or political protests could expose sensitive details about people's lives. It also warns the technology can be "weaponized and abused."

"ICE and CBP have repeatedly used Flock to go after immigrants without warrants. Kansas police used them to pursue a man who wrote a critical op-ed about the department, while a Colorado police officer wrongfully accused a woman of theft based on a Flock hit and then refused to look at evidence proving her innocence. A mother and her children were held at gunpoint because ALPR cameras wrongly flagged their car as stolen," the group said.

It has started a campaign called "Get the Flock out" to urge state legislators to pass regulations about their use.

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom