New Gallup data show that people are growing increasingly distrustful of major technology companies such as Meta, Apple, and Google, as well as a newer player in the surveillance industry, Flock Safety. Some people are even taking matters into their own hands by destroying the AI-powered surveillance cameras appearing in communities across the country.
Flock Safety, a private surveillance technology company founded in 2017, has been earning a reputation as a herald of the much-feared Orwellian “surveillance state.” Although a private company, Flock’s business model operates by selling AI-powered camera and audio detection systems to local and state governments for use by law enforcement to better respond to crimes.
Although Flock’s stated mission appears to serve the common good, its technology has repeatedly drawn controversy over misuse by law enforcement and the risk of possibly devastating data breaches.
The system begins with local or state governments purchasing Flock cameras to help law enforcement locate suspects who might otherwise be difficult to find. Flock’s automatic license plate readers scan every passing vehicle and store the available information in a database for 30 days. The company’s proprietary AI also allows officers to search using broad descriptions, such as “green Rivian,” rather than an exact license plate number. That capability may make it easier to identify suspects, but it also increases the risk of mistakes and abuse.
And that’s exactly what happened to Denver resident Chrisanna Elser in September 2025, according to CBS News.
Caught on her own Ring Doorbell and the police bodycam footage, Police Sgt. Jamie Milliman approached Elser at her home and began to accuse her of stealing a package from a different neighborhood. His proof? Flock camera footage of her car going near the neighborhood around the time of the incident.
“Nothing gets in or out of the town without us knowing,” Milliman said during the confrontation. “It is her. It is 100%. It is locked in. There is zero doubt. I wouldn’t have come here unless I was 100% sure.”
The Columbine Valley Police Department, which sent this officer to Elser’s door, is one of over 5,000 across the country that use the roughly 115,000 ALPR cameras for surveillance.
The charges against Elser were eventually dropped after she used video evidence recorded by her vehicle and her friend’s home camera to prove she was not in the area of the theft.
“It’s kind of changing the narrative,” she said, according to CBS News. “Now it’s about proving where you are and what you’re doing, instead of fighting crime.”
Elser’s case is one of a number of cases of Flock video surveillance being misused or mishandled that have gained public attention across the country. According to the Institute for Justice, there are more than 22 recorded incidents of police officers using their access to Flock data to stalk romantic interests, with most only coming to light after victims reported the officers’ behavior to the authorities.
It’s no wonder that, according to the Gallup data, people are increasingly fearful of Big Technology companies. In 2026, 41% of respondents said they had little or no trust in Big Tech companies, up 9 percentage points from last year.
This growing distrust is even leading to vigilante activity against Flock ALPRs. All over Instagram and other social media sites, people are posting videos on how to get away with destroying Flock ALPRs. These vigilantes are using the website DeFlock to find the locations of nearby cameras and are destroying them in the night.
Unfortunately, while Flock cameras, among other ALPR camera systems, can expose private data, lead to a question about Fourth Amendment rights of possible unlawful search and seizure, and are occasionally abused by law enforcement personnel, they also fill a much-needed role in society. The Flock marketing slogan that reads “Safety Is a Fundamental Right” is a bit of an over-exaggeration, but it’s partially true: Citizens deserve to have their property, lives, and freedoms protected.
ALPR cameras have greatly helped law enforcement arrest dangerous criminals. According to a company blog post touting the system’s uses, Flock ALPR surveillance assisted Georgia law enforcement officials in apprehending a suspect in the unconnected murders of three individuals.
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On a smaller scale, porch pirates continue to steal packages from people’s front doors, while law enforcement agencies often lack the resources to track down every culprit. With better tools, however, police might have a better chance of solving crimes that would otherwise go unpunished.
Flock Safety occupies an uneasy space between legitimate law enforcement technology and the machinery of a surveillance state. As public concern grows over Big Tech and the exposure of private data, lawmakers will need to establish clear limits on how this technology can be used.