![\"Flock](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kxan_articles_390\/978773f3557c9dc8c0cb781958e059ae.jpg\"\/)
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Flock cameras in a Pflugerville neighborhood (KXAN Photo\/Nathan Langley)<\/p>\n
Amid a rise in data privacy and surveillance concerns, a growing list of communities have cut ties with Flock in recent weeks. The latest data collected by KXAN<\/a> shows at least 11 cities and counties have ended operations with the company’s cameras.<\/p>\n “I think the ALPRs really helped our officers to solve crimes, not to find crimes,” reflected Weiss.<\/p>\n Local leaders, like Weiss, now distance themselves from the technology as their municipalities move on from ALPRs.<\/p>\n Pflugerville<\/p>\n Pflugerville leaders say more than 400 agencies had unauthorized access to its Flock system. That situation’s inspired hesitation for the city’s next steps.<\/p>\n “Once you have an experience like we did with Flock, you’re going to be a whole lot more careful the next time around \u2014 if there is a next time,” said Weiss.<\/p>\n In an NPR<\/a> report from August, the CEO of Axon \u2014 a Flock competitor and producer of body cameras \u2014 claimed “We’re seeing a significant number of agencies want to come over to Axon and convert from existing license plate readers to us.”<\/p>\n Weiss says Pflugerville won’t be one of those agencies switching at this time. Instead, the mayor says he and city council members are focusing on the city’s first data governance standards: Secure Accountable, Fair and Explainable technology use \u2014 i.e., the “SAFE policy.”<\/p>\n “To ensure that it is managed appropriately, that it’s not infringing on our individuals and that we know exactly what it does,” explained Weiss.<\/p>\n The policy would also address public transparency around “high-risk systems” like ALPRs, which may require city council approval. Council is expected to vote on SAFE in the future.<\/p>\n Lago Vista<\/p>\n Since decommissioning the city’s roughly five Flock cameras in early August, Lago Vista<\/a> Mayor Shane Saum says he’s learned of “a couple” of incidents that ALPRs could have assisted.<\/p>\n “Nothing serious,” clarified Saum. He mentioned other cameras \u2014 public and private \u2014 are accessible for law enforcement to utilize.<\/p>\n “All the tools that existed before flock cameras still exist,” he maintained.<\/p>\n Flock cameras in a Pflugerville neighborhood (KXAN Photo\/Nathan Langley)<\/p>\n Saum added his city hasn’t looked at signing with another ALPR provider, such as Axon; he mentioned an existing contract for body cameras with the Scottsdale, Arizona, based company could open the door for portable license plate reader.<\/p>\n “It’s something I talked to the chief [Police Chief Ron Joy] about that we’re just not interested in.”<\/p>\n![\"Flock](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kxan_articles_390\/08ff6f7734f071f3a5024fe3367ea2a1.jpg\"\/)
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