PENNSYLVANIA (WJAC) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking a closer look at Flock safety cameras and other automated license plate readers as concerns grow over privacy, data sharing and how the technology is used.
License plate readers and Flock safety cameras are being used across Pennsylvania — including in Cambria, Blair, Centre and Clearfield counties.
The website known as ‘DeFlock’ has gained popularity as it tracks license plate reader locations across the country.
But one company has drawn particular attention: Flock Safety.
We reached out to Flock Safety to learn more about how its cameras are used.
Flock says its cameras help law enforcement investigate crimes, including stolen vehicles, burglaries and assaults.
The cameras capture images of vehicles in public, including license plates, as well as details such as vehicle make, color and other features.
Flock says law enforcement can also receive real-time alerts for stolen vehicles, wanted people and missing persons.
The company says its technology has supported more than one million investigations and public safety incidents in 2025.
But Flock isn’t the only company providing this technology.
One local police chief says that his department uses Motorola’s license plate reader system instead.
He says that system captures license plate information, does not use facial recognition, and tracks what officers search.
The chief adds that Flock technology is used by some businesses and homeowners associations — and that police may need to request access to that footage.
Pennsylvania State Police says that they do not currently own Flock cameras or supply data to Flock Safety.
Regardless of who is using them, lawmakers remain concerned about how this technology is being used.
This is a real concern that I’ve had for quite a while. These new technologies, especially with high-resolution cameras combined with AI and other tools, these are really powerful surveillance tools,” warns Rep. Paul Takac. And while these are very powerful technologies, I think we also have to be aware that there are very powerful constitutional protections that we have to take into account, right? The right to privacy, unreasonable search and seizure.
“If it can track down a stolen car, if it can help police find criminals, I’m all for it. But we have to do it in a way that we are not using this information that these cameras are able to attain for other sources,” added Rep. Mike Armanini.
Blair County Representative Andrea Verobish says that she has co-sponsored two bills that would create safeguards, governing the use of automated license plate readers like Flock cameras and give municipalities the power to reject the technology in their communities.
When law enforcement uses Flock cameras appropriately, these devices and surveillance technologies are modern solutions for aiding in investigations.But now that these cameras are active across the Commonwealth and are capable of tracking information about law-abiding citizens, I have joined my colleagues in a legislative effort to protect privacy rights of all Pennsylvanians.
While those bills have not yet been introduced, lawmakers we spoke with say this is not the last we’ll hear about Flock cameras and other license plate reader technology.
They expect the issue to get more attention in Harrisburg in the months ahead.