Flock cameras have become a symbol of a growing national fight over surveillance. While Pittsburgh officials say they don’t use Flock, the city does use other cameras that function similarly.

Pittsburgh has used automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, since 2006, according to Daniel Shak, manager at the office of Public Safety Technology. The City of Pittsburgh does not contract with Flock but uses other brands of ALPRs, including Axis, Hanwha, and Bosch, he said.

kAm%96 42>6C2D 2FE@>2E:42==J 42AEFC6 :>286D @7 2 42C =:46?D6 A=2E6] $F49 42>6C2D 42? 2=D@ 42AEFC6 2 42C’D >2<6[ >@56=[ 4@=@C[ 2?5 2 E:>6DE2>A]k^Am

kAm%96 42>6C2D FD65 3J E96 4:EJ 2C6 4@?EC@==65 E9C@F89 E96 #62= %:>6 rC:>6 r6?E6C[ 2 9F3 2E A@=:46 9625BF2CE6CD E92E 9@FD6D 4C:>6 DFCG6:==2?46 E649?@=@8J] r2>6C2 7@@E286 2?5 52E2 2C6 86?6C2==J C6E2:?65 7@C `_ 52JD[ F?=6DD AC6D6CG65 2D A2CE @7 2? :?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 !:EED3FC89 qFC62F @7 !@=:46 7@==@HD ~C56C eh\_a[ H9:49 A6C>:ED 42>6C2 FD6 7@C AF3=:4 6>6C86?4:6D[ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 4C:>6 AC6G6?E:@?]k^Am

kAm$92< D2:5 E96 D2768F2C5D 2C6 😕 A=246 E@ AC6G6?E 2?J A@E6?E:2= 23FD6D @7 A@H6C 3J =2H 6?7@C46>6?E]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 ?@ >:DFD6D E92E 2C6 @? C64@C5[” $92< D2:5] “(6 =@@<65 2E @E96C 4:E:6Dj H6 4C62E65 2 A@=:4J 2?5 2 A=2? E92E 36DE 7:ED !:EED3FC89] !:EED3FC89 😀 >256 @7 2 =@E @7 56>@8C2A9:4D[ 5:776C6?E ?6:893@C9@@5D[ 5:776C6?E ?665D[ 2?5 AFEE:?8 E92E DA64:2=:K65 2EE6?E:@? E@ E9@D6 4@>>F?:E:6D 2=@?8 H:E9 A@=:4J\5C:G6? E649?@=@8J 56A=@J>6?ED 92D 2==@H65 FD E@ <:?5 @7 DE2J 29625 @7 E92E 4FCG6 2?5 6?DFC6 E92E E96C6 😀 ?@E >:DFD6]”k^Am

kAms:DEC:4E f r@F?4:=H@>2? s63@C29 vC@DD DA@?D@C65 2 C6D@=FE:@? AC@>AE:?8 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 x??@G2E:@? U2>Aj !6C7@C>2?46 E@ 4C62E6 2 C6A@CE @? 2== DFCG6:==2?46 E649?@=@8J FD65 3J E96 r:EJ @7 !:EED3FC89] %96 C6A@CE[ C6=62D65 $6AE] h[ :56?E:7:65 bf EJA6D @7 E649?@=@8J]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< H6 2== ?665 E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE E9:D] x 2> 567:?:E6=J 23D@=FE6=J 4@?46C?65 2D 2 A6CD@? 2?5 2D 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 4:E:K6?D @7 !:EED3FC89[ E92E E96C6 😀 H2J E@@ >F49 E649?@=@8J E92E 92D 4C@DD65 @G6C E96 =:?6 2?5 😀 2G2:=23=6 E@ 325 24E@CD 😕 E96 >2C<6EA=246 E92E :?G256D J@FC AC:G24J 2?5 😀 DFCG6:==:?8 J@F[ 2?5 x 5@?’E E9:?< :E D9@F=5 36[” vC@DD D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 C6A@CE 56E2:=D E92E 42>6C2D 2C6 A@DE65 😕 =@42E:@?D H96C6 E96C6 😀 ?@ =682= 6IA64E2E:@? @7 AC:G24J]k^Am

kAmp{!# 42>6C2D 92G6 366? :56?E:7:65 E9C@F89@FE $@FE9H6DE6C? !6??DJ=G2?:2] x? pAC:=[ |F?92== C6D:56?ED 4C62E65 2 A6E:E:@? 42==:?8 7@C 2 32? @? u=@4< 42>6C2D 27E6C 3@C@F89 @77:4:2=D DE2CE65 2 EC:2= CF? H:E9 E96 4@>A2?J] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^s67=@4<]@C8Qms67=@4<]@C8k^2m U?52D9j 2? 2?E:\p{!# @A6?\D@FC46 >2A U?52D9j 92D u=@4< 42>6C2D >2C<65 😕 |6C46C[ {2HC6?46[ (2D9:?8E@?[ 2?5 r=62C7:6=5 4@F?E:6D[ 2>@?8 @E96CD]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 E96C6 2C6 u=@4< 42>6C2D 😕 2?5 2C@F?5 E96 r:EJ @7 !:EED3FC89[ E96J 2C6 AC:G2E6=J @H?65] qFD:?6DD6D =:<6 w@>6 s6A@E 2?5 {@H6’D 4@?EC24E H:E9 E96 4@>A2?J[ 2?5 4FDE@>6CD >2J D66 u=@4< 42>6C2D 😕 E96:C A2C<:?8 =@ED] w@>6 s6A@E 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 2? :?E6CG:6H]k^Am

kAmpD p{!# FD6 92D 6IA2?565 24C@DD E96 &]$][ E96 E649?@=@8J 92D C2:D65 4@?46C?D 23@FE AC:G24J 2?5 >:DFD6] p? :?G6DE:82E:@? 3J E96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DE 5@4F>6?E65 D@>6 :?DE2?46D @7 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E @77:46CD FD:?8 =:46?D6 A=2E6 C6256C DJDE6>D E@ EC24< 4FCC6?E 2?5 7@C>6C C@>2?E:4 A2CE?6CD[ 7@C 6I2>A=6]k^Am

kAm%96C6 92G6 2=D@ 366? 5@4F>6?E65 72=D6 p{!# >2E496D[ 3C@25 52E2 D92C:?8[ 2?5 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 4@?E:?F@FD 4@==64E:@? @7 G69:4=6\=@42E:@? 52E2] !6??DJ=G2?:2 =2H>2<6CD 92G6 :?EC@5F465 >F=E:A=6 3:==D DF886DE:?8 =:>:E2E:@?D @? p{!# 42>6C2D]k^Am

kAmx? C6DA@?D6 E@ 4@?46C?D 23@FE >:DFD6[ u=@4< 2??@F?465 😕 pF8FDE E92E :E H@F=5 C65F46 E96 5672F=E 52E2 C6E6?E:@? A6C:@5 7C@> b_ 52JD E@ D6G6?] %96 4@>A2?J 2=D@ =2F?4965 :ED 2F5:E 2DD:DE 762EFC6[ H9:49 😀 D2:5 E@ 7=28 23?@C>2= 7@@E286 24E:G:EJ 7@C 25>:?:DEC2E@C C6G:6H]k^Am

kAmu=@4< D2JD @? :ED H63D:E6 E96 E649?@=@8J 96=AD =2H 6?7@C46>6?E D@=G6 4C:>6D 3J 42AEFC:?8 2 C64@C5 @7 6G6?ED] %96 AF3=:4 D276EJ E649?@=@8J 4@>A2?J D6==D =:46?D6 A=2E6 C6256CD[ G:56@ 42>6C2D[ 8F?D9@E 2?5 2F5:@ 56E64E:@? 56G:46D[ 2>@?8 @E96C AC@5F4ED] u=@4< $276EJ @77:4:2=D 😕 2? 6>2:= D2:5 ?@ @?6 H2D 2G2:=23=6 7@C 2? :?E6CG:6H]k^Am

kAmp6C:? p52>D\uF49D[ 4@\@H?6C @7 E96 $@7E $A@E r27é 😕 v2C7:6=5[ H2D C646?E=J >256 2H2C6 @7 2 42>6C2 :?DE2==65 2E E96 :?E6CD64E:@? @7 }@CE9 p:<6? 2?5 !6?? 2G6?F6D[ 😕 7C@?E @7 96C 3FD:?6DD] %96 427é 😀 2 DA246 E92E H6=4@>6D BF66C[ EC2?D[ 2?5 @E96C A6@A=6 7C@> 9:DE@C:42==J >2C8:?2=:K65 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 😀 2? :>>65:2E6 4@?46C? 7C@> E96 2DA64E @7 E96 A6@A=6 E92E H6 2C6 2D<:?8 E@ 4@>6[ 3642FD6 H6VC6 ?@E ;FDE 2 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ 4@7766 D9@A E92EVD 2EEC24E:?8 E96 A6@A=6 E92E =:G6 😕 E96 ?6:893@C9@@5] (6VC6 DA64:7:42==J 5@:?8 @FEC6249 E@ BF66C 2?5 EC2?D J@FE9 2?5 72>:=:6D 2?5 A6@A=6 E92E 92G6 366? 5:D6?7C2?49:D65 😕 @E96C A2CED @7 E96:C =:76 2?5 2D<:?8 E96> E@ 4@>6 96C6[” p52>D\uF49D D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 42>6C2 @FED:56 @7 E96 $@7E $A@E r27U624FE6j 😀 =236==65 2D 2? pI:D 42>6C2 @? k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^s67=@4<]@C8Qms67=@4<]@C8k^2m[ $92< 4@?7:C>65]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 E96 4:EJ 5@6D ?@E AC@G:56 E9:C5 A2CE:6D H:E9 5:C64E 2446DD E@ 42>6C2 7@@E286[ E96J >2J >2<6 2 C6BF6DE E9C@F89 E96 #62= %:>6 rC:>6 r6?E6C E@ 82:? 2446DD 7@C 2? 24E:G6 :?G6DE:82E:@?[ $92< D2:5] p 42D6 ?F>36C >FDE 36 :?4=F565 😕 E96 C6BF6DE]k^Am

kAmp{!# DJDE6>D 92G6 5C2H? 4C:E:4:D> 3642FD6 7656C2= :>>:8C2E:@? 286?4:6D 92G6 @3E2:?65 2446DD E@ =:46?D6\A=2E6 52E2[ :?4=F5:?8 E9C@F89 =@42= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E A2CE?6CD] $@>6 p{!# G6?5@CD 2=D@ 4@?EC24E 5:C64E=J H:E9 x>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 rFDE@>D t?7@C46>6?E] $92< D2:5 E92E E96 4:EJ 92D ?@E AC@G:565 xrt H:E9 7@@E286 😕 E96 =2DE `g >@?E9D]k^Am

kAm“(6 42?VE @3G:@FD=J D2J H9@ @C H92E H@F=5 >2<6 2 C6BF6DE @7 FD] |@DE @7 E96 C6BF6DED E92E H6 86E 7C@> >F?:4:A2= 6?E:E:6D 2C6 7@C 2 9@>:4:56 :?G6DE:82E:@?[” $92< D2:5] “qFE x >62?[ x 42?VE D2J :7 xrt 😀 8@:?8 E@ 42== FD E@>@CC@H 2?5 2D< FD 7@C D@>6E9:?8]”k^Am

kAm(9:=6 u=@4< 92D 366? 2E E96 7@C67C@?E @7 AF3=:4 5:D4FDD:@?[ @E96C 42>6C2D AC@G:56CD 92G6 D:>:=2C C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 xrt[ 244@C5:?8 E@ r925 |2C=@H[ pr{& D6?:@C A@=:4J 4@F?D6=]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 2C6 46CE2:?=J 2DA64ED @7 @E96C p{!# 4@>A2?:6D E92E 2C6 H@CD6 E92? u=@4<] u=@4< 5@6D ?@E[ 😕 724E[ 92G6 5:C64E 4@?EC24ED H:E9 xrt] ~E96C p{!# 4@>A2?:6D 5@[” |2C=@H D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 u=@4< $276EJ H63D:E6 DE2E6D E92E p{!#D EC24< G69:4=6D[ ?@E A6@A=6]k^Am

kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^s67=@4<]@C8Qms67=@4<]@C8k^2m >2A E28D p{!# 42>6C2D 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@?[ 3FE 3642FD6 :E 😀 4@>>F?:EJ\CF?[ ?@E 2== 42>6C2D 2C6 >2C<65 4@CC64E=J[ $92< D2:5]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 😀 2=D@ 2 72=D6 AC6D6?46 E92E E9:D ‘s67=@4< >J 4@>>F?:EJ’ D@4:2= >65:2 E92E’D @FE E96C6] %96J 92G6 =:E6C2==J =236=65 6G6CJ 42>6C2 😕 2 4@>>F?:EJ[” $92< D2:5]k^Am

kAmpE E96 E:>6 @7 AF3=:42E:@?[ >@DE 6?EC:6D 😕 2?5 2C@F?5 !:EED3FC89 2C6 =236=65 2D !=2E6 $>2CE[ |@E@C@=2 $@=FE:@?D[ 2?5 u=@4< $276EJ AC@5F4ED @? E96 4C@H5D@FC465 >2A]k^Am

kAmx? !:EED3FC89[ A@=:46 @77:46CD 2C6 ?@E A6C>:EE65 E@ FD6 A2?[ E:=E[ @C K@@> 762EFC6D E@ 7@==@H :?5:G:5F2=D H:E9@FE C62D@?23=6 DFDA:4:@?]k^Am

kAm~E96C AC@9:3:E65 FD6D :?4=F56[ 3FE 2C6 ?@E =:>:E65 E@[ >@?:E@C:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D D@=6=J @? E96 32D:D @7 492C24E6C:DE:4D =:<6 C246[ 286[ D6I[ @C D6IF2= @C:6?E2E:@?j >@?:E@C:?8 7C66 DA6649 24E:G:EJ 6I46AE E@ 2DD:DE H:E9 EC277:4 @C 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46Dj 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 7@@E286 E@ @E96C 8@G6C?>6?E2= 6?E:E:6D H:E9@FE 2 7@C>2= C6BF6DE]k^Am

kAmp52>D\uF49D D2:5 D64FC:EJ 42>6C2D H@?’E AC6G6?E 96C 7C@> 9@DE:?8 >2C8:?2=:K65 8C@FAD[ 3FE D96 H@F=5 =@@< :?E@ @E96C DA246D :7 ?646DD2CJ] u@C ?@H[ D96 😀 H@C<:?8 E@ C2:D6 4@>>F?:EJ 2H2C6?6DD]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< E96 8@2= 😀 E@ 86E 2 36EE6C :562 C:89E ?@H @7 H92E E96 D4@A6 @7 :ED >@?:E@C:?8 :D[ 2?5 E96? 9@A67F==J 36 23=6 E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 E92E 😕 2 H2J @? @FC H63D:E6[ @? E96 A@=6D 2C@F?5 E@H?[ D@ E92E A6@A=6 42? 49@@D6 E96:C 4@>7@CE23:=:EJ[” p52>D\uF49D D2:5]k^Am

kAmp52>D\uF49D 4@?E24E65 E96 4:EJ 2?5 H2D :?7@C>65 E92E E96 42>6C2 H2D AC6G:@FD=J :?DE2==65 7@C 4C:>6 C65F4E:@? AFCA@D6D]k^Am

kAmx? ~2<=2?5[ 2 u=@4< 42>6C2 😀 >@F?E65 2E E96 :?E6CD64E:@? @7 u@C36D pG6?F6 2?5 pEH@@5 $EC66E] $92< D2:5 E96 42>6C2 😀 AC:G2E6=J @H?65]k^Am

kAm|2C=@H D2:5 E92E 4@?46C?65 4:E:K6?D D9@F=5 DE2J 2H2C6 @7 42>6C2D 😕 E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< H96? A6@A=6 2C6 @FE E96C6 @AA@D:?8 u=@4<[ E92E 😀 `__T E96 C:89E E9:?8 E@ 5@ 😕 E96 7:CDE :?DE2?46[ 3FE @?46 J@F 86E C:5 @7 u=@4<[ :7 J@FC =@42= 4:EJ @C E@H? DH:E496D @G6C E@ 2?@E96C p{!# 4@>A2?J[ J@F >2J 7:?5 J@FCD6=7 😕 G:CEF2==J E96 D2>6 4:C4F>DE2?46D 2D J@F H6C6 F?56C H:E9 u=@4<[” |2C=@H D2:5]k^Am

Sarah Naccarato is an intern for the Pittsburgh Media Partnership and a senior at Chatham University. She is a one of 19 New York Times Corps mentees in the U.S., and a staff member of the Chatham Communiqué. In 2025, Sarah spent one month in Arles, France as a part of the ieiMedia international journalism and photography Arles project.

‍The PMP Newsroom is a regional news service that focuses on government and enterprise reporting in southwestern Pennsylvania.