Texas Deputy Uses Flock Cameras to Locate Abortion Patient

WHO:

Gadget Review - Johnson County deputy involved in the search.

Gadget Review - Flock Safety, the company providing the surveillance camera network.

Gadget Review - Representatives Sylvia Garcia and Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to Flock CEO Garrett Langley.

WHAT:

CNN - City governments in Fort Collins, Colorado; Eugene, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Knoxville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; and Walla Walla, Washington have deactivated Flock cameras or canceled contracts with the company.

CNN - Flock has 120,000 automated license plate reader (ALPR) and pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) cameras deployed throughout the US, capturing tens of billions of data points a month.

Gadget Review - Documents obtained by 404 Media show that deputies discussed potential criminal charges with prosecutors regarding the search for the woman suspected of self-managing an abortion.

Gadget Review - The ACLU of Massachusetts recorded over 450,000 searches hitting Flock’s national database in a single 30-day period in spring 2025.

CNN - Flock cameras have been vandalized in various ways, including being cut down with electric saws, painted over, and rammed by vehicles in locations such as upstate New York, Oakland, California, and Idaho.

CNN - A man in Florida has been seen blocking a Flock camera's view with a piece of cardboard on a pole while sitting in a lawn chair.

CNN - In recent weeks, a West Virginia man was arrested for destroying several Flock cameras, with many people on social media offering to provide alibis for him.

CNN - Flock has been accused of enabling police officers to stalk individuals, including ex-partners, using its surveillance system.

CNN - A report by 404 Media indicated that there have been more than a dozen cases of police officers accused of using Flock to harass and stalk people.

CNN - Flock has introduced an automatic audit process to flag suspicious or questionable activity for administrators.

Gadget Review - Documents obtained by 404 Media revealed that deputies discussed potential criminal charges with prosecutors regarding the search for the woman suspected of self-managing an abortion.

The Guardian - Flock cameras have been criticized for their physical installation, with reports indicating that some cameras lack safety features like breakaway plates, posing potential hazards for drivers.

The Guardian - Steve Eimers, known as the Guardrail Guy, has documented the failure of roadside structures to meet safety requirements, particularly focusing on Flock cameras.

The Guardian - Eimers noted that he has only found one Flock pole installed with the required breakaway plate, which was positioned higher than federal standards allow.

CNN - Flock Safety has an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 cameras deployed in more than 6,000 communities across the US.

CNN - Flock cameras capture tens of billions of data points a month.

CNN - In 2024, crashes between a motor vehicle and a fixed barrier accounted for 26% of vehicle deaths nationwide, according to the National Safety Council.

CNN - A police officer in Los Angeles can be alerted if a car they’re looking for pops up in Chicago and can inform the local authorities.

Gadget Review - A Texas deputy searched Flock Safety’s network of 83,000 cameras to locate a woman suspected of self-managing an abortion.

CNN - Flock Safety has 120,000 automated license plate reader (ALPR) and pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) cameras deployed throughout the US.

CNN - Flock cameras capture license plate numbers, timestamps, locations, and directions of travel, all stored in a central cloud.

Gadget Review - Over 450,000 searches hit Flock’s national database in a single 30-day period in spring 2025.

CNN - Flock’s default setting is to retain data from its cameras for 30 days.

WHERE:

Gadget Review - The search spanned across 45 states, including Washington and Illinois.

CNN - Flock cameras are deployed in cities including Fort Collins, Colorado; Eugene, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Knoxville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; and Walla Walla, Washington.

WHEN:

Gadget Review - The search was conducted on May 9, 2025.

Gadget Review - A letter was sent to Flock CEO Garrett Langley in August 2025.

WHY:

CNN - Opposition to Flock cameras is a rare issue that unites people across the ideological spectrum, with concerns about privacy violations and the potential for a surveillance state.

CNN - Opposition to Flock cameras is a rare issue that binds people across the ideological spectrum, with concerns about privacy violations and the potential for a surveillance state.

Gadget Review - The deputy was searching for a woman suspected of self-administering an abortion.

CNN - Opposition to Flock cameras is driven by concerns over privacy violations and the potential for a surveillance state.

HOW:

CNN - Flock’s reciprocal sharing model allows over 75% of the 5,000-plus law enforcement departments using Flock to share their data into a national pool.

Gadget Review - The deputy queried Flock Safety’s nationwide license plate reader network without a warrant.

CNN - Flock’s reciprocal sharing model allows law enforcement agencies to access a national pool of data from shared cameras.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 01:32 UTC)

City governments in Fort Collins, Colorado; Eugene, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Knoxville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; and Walla Walla, Washington have recently deactivated Flock cameras or canceled contracts with the company, reflecting a growing opposition to the surveillance technology. Flock operates over 120,000 automated license plate reader and pan, tilt, and zoom cameras across the U.S., capturing vast amounts of data, with the ACLU of Massachusetts reporting over 450,000 searches from Flock’s national database in just one month last spring. This backlash against Flock cameras highlights a rare consensus among diverse groups concerned about privacy violations and the implications of a surveillance state.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 17:34 UTC)

Flock cameras have faced significant vandalism across various locations, including being cut down, painted over, and rammed by vehicles in places like upstate New York, Oakland, and Idaho. In Florida, a man was spotted blocking a Flock camera's view with cardboard while lounging in a lawn chair, and a West Virginia man was arrested for destroying several of these cameras, with many on social media offering to provide him alibis. Additionally, Flock has been criticized for enabling police officers to stalk individuals, leading to reports of over a dozen cases of harassment, prompting the company to introduce an automatic audit process to flag suspicious activity.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 16:31 UTC)

Flock Safety has deployed an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 cameras across more than 6,000 communities in the U.S., capturing tens of billions of data points each month. This technology enables police officers, for instance in Los Angeles, to be alerted if a vehicle they are tracking appears in a different city, allowing for swift communication with local authorities. However, the widespread use of Flock cameras has sparked a rare bipartisan concern over privacy violations and the potential for a surveillance state, as more than 75% of the over 5,000 law enforcement departments using Flock share their data into a national pool.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 13:37 UTC)

A Texas deputy used Flock Safety’s extensive network of 83,000 cameras to search for a woman suspected of self-managing an abortion, conducting the search across 45 states. This query was made without a warrant, raising concerns over privacy violations and the potential for a surveillance state, as Flock Safety's cameras capture and store detailed data, including license plate numbers and locations. In response to these developments, Representatives Sylvia Garcia and Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to Flock CEO Garrett Langley in August 2025, highlighting the growing scrutiny surrounding the use of surveillance technology by law enforcement.