The tighter rules are meant to strengthen privacy protections while doubling down on the controversial surveillance technology.
Jose Velasquez
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie speaks to members of the press after unveiling the renamed federal building in honor of Senator Dianne Feinstein on June 29, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Mayor Lurie unveiled a new privacy policy for the city’s automated license plate reader system. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
As public scrutiny over Flock Safety cameras mounts, San Francisco officials announced new restrictions and increased oversight on Tuesday for the city’s use of license plate readers.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie joined District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Police Chief Derrick Lew and Assemblymember Matt Haney to share a raft of new policies intended to strengthen privacy protections — while doubling down on the city’s Flock contract.
“This technology keeps San Franciscans safe,” Lurie said, “and we will not go back to a time where people can break into cars, rob businesses or commit serious crime and expect to get away with it.”
An automated license plate reader is seen mounted on a pole on June 13, 2024, in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Standing underneath a Flock license plate reader on Mission Street, the mayor credited the cameras with reduced crime and improved public safety, while acknowledging residents “also have a right to expect strong protections about how information is accessed.”
Under the new rules, San Francisco Police Department personnel will lose access to license plate data after 30 days, and officers’ use of the technology must be justified and reported.
“Every active search will have to be connected to a specific incident number,” Lurie said. “The officer will have to state the reason for the search and the system will record who conducted it.”
Used by thousands of law enforcement agencies throughout the country, the technology has raised alarms over the potential for misuse and unauthorized sharing of information.
In June, the SFPD revealed that their Automated License Plate Reader, or ALPR, data had been improperly accessed hundreds of times by out-of-state and federal agencies.
Lurie emphasized on Tuesday that the city doesn’t willingly share ALPR data with federal agencies.
“Our job isn’t to react after something bad happens,” Jenkins said.
In a press release, the mayor said SFPD will conduct monthly reviews for potential violations. And the Department of Police Accountability will conduct regular independent audits of the department’s use of the technology.
Training will be required for personnel with access to ALPR systems. Officers who violate the new policy face department discipline or termination, the release said.