r/ChandlerAZ • u/FunPriority8358 • 15d ago
Flock cameras in Chandler update
https://www.azfamily.com/video/2026/05/19/chandler-make-decision-flock-camera-contract/20
u/tobylazur 15d ago
Thank you for the updates. Hopefully they decide to end the contract with flock.
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u/Time-Sudden_Tree 15d ago edited 15d ago
Is the article text not loading for anyone else? The only thing in that link is the title and a video player.
Edit: Here's a working link.
And the full article text in case it disappears again:
CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily) — Chandler City Council pressed Flock Safety representatives during a meeting Monday for details on data storage, access and privacy concerns as the city decides whether to extend its contract with the license plate reader company.
The contract with Flock is worth up to $153,400. An official vote on the extension is set for Thursday.
The Chandler Police Department installed 14 of the cameras in March 2024 as part of a pilot program and then in May 2025, the city council approved buying another 26 cameras.
The cameras snap pictures of license plates and send that information to law enforcement.
Council members questioned Flock representatives about who has access to the data. The company said only the city can access the data and it is deleted after 30 days.
Supporters say the license plate readers help detectives identify stolen cars and wanted suspects that may be connected to crimes.
Chandler police told the council the cameras are already helping solve cases.
“Our real-time operations center received a Flock alert of a wanted person. They were from another state and the warrant was for crimes against children,” a police representative said. “The suspect was then located and arrested.”
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u/FunPriority8358 14d ago edited 14d ago
Here’s information on Flagstaff and Sedona saying no to flock at their council meetings. Pushback resulted in full termination of Flock cameras.
https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/2229?arc=4065
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u/Mysterious-South-661 14d ago
Wait until people find out you are constantly being tracked by phones and there CCTV in nearly every establishment.
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u/FunPriority8358 13d ago
This whole meeting had more drama than a Secret Wives of Mormon Lives episode!!!!!
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u/MoNeYINPHX 13d ago
Councilmember Harris made a motion to turn off the cameras while they do more research and look into oversight. Mayor and other council members present did not second. After a recess due to Councilmember Ellis and Councilmember Harris starting to get heated, Mayor made a motion to table this until July and Councilmember Ellis seconded the motion. Mayor and councilmembers present all voted yes except for Councilmember Harris. This means the Flock cameras will all still be live for now.
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u/OstrichOk8129 13d ago edited 13d ago
Well I know of one council member that I will be voting for regardless of political affiliation!
These cameras can and have been used in an inappropriate manner already in other jurisdictions. They open a whole other can of worms that can and should not be opened.
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u/Azchand 14d ago
Does anyone know if it is true that AmazonI, UPS and Waymo also track your license plates around town, at your home in your driveway and parking lots at work?
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u/FunPriority8358 14d ago
I haven’t seen anything regarding Waymo on this. What I do see regarding Amazon is that they have cameras in their facilities to scan license plates to track their delivery trucks but that’s it.
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u/FunPriority8358 13d ago
This meeting is still going at 9:29pm!!!!!!!!!!!
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u/Replaceableuser 13d ago
Omg....I saw a highlight on the news but please report back!
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u/FunPriority8358 13d ago
K. Just staying out of stubbornness right now! Flock representatives talking alongside chief police officer right now.
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u/FunPriority8358 13d ago
Can you share link? Would love to see it even though I’m still here. News cameras have been here the whole time.
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u/FunPriority8358 13d ago
City Council just called a recess because councilwoman Ellis and councilman harris just got into it!!!!!
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u/Old_Error_509 15d ago
I guess I just assume these days that if you’re outside, you’re being recorded. Can someone educate me on the specific issues with Flock that other companies don’t have?
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u/FunPriority8358 15d ago
From the deflock.org site, “ALPRs are a serious risk to your privacy and civil liberties. These systems continuously record your movements without a warrant, probable cause, or even reasonable suspicion. Your driving history is rarely confined to the town or city where the cameras are installed. It's typically shared with thousands of other agencies nationwide (secretly). Once the data is out of your community, you have no control over how it's used or what rules apply, leading to instances of misuse.”
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u/ConsequenceSilver 15d ago edited 15d ago
Was also just reminded, there is this craziness- https://www.reddit.com/r/hypeurls/s/lgtLdJw22y
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u/Emotional_Formal2049 15d ago
What misuse are we concerned with? Can anyone provide any actual uses or just theoretical, “they are tracking me!”
Of all the data being gathered, is it being used? Would it be ok for someone to take photos of cars in public? From various places?
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u/Replaceableuser 13d ago
A small (but disturbing) collection concerns: https://www.404media.co/tag/flock/
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u/Replaceableuser 13d ago
I posted below but replying directly so you see it: https://www.404media.co/tag/flock/
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u/Then-Departure-4036 13d ago
They are not just placed for traffic. There are two in the beautiful park I go to twice a day in Mesa. They are recording people IN THE PARK.
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u/Emotional_Formal2049 15d ago
As a citizen that does not commit crimes, what are actual uses of this system should I be afraid of.
Most of the arguments I have seen a theoretical and have no actual examples
Explain it like I’m 5. Thanks in advance!
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u/youngBBB 15d ago
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u/FunPriority8358 15d ago
Wow, I appreciate this citizenspeaking up about at least 60 security vulnerabilities that he could find with this software. Thank you for posting.
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u/Emotional_Formal2049 15d ago
So what can be done with this info? Actual uses? Other than finding criminals, finding lost people, finding stolen cars? What other issues are there. Every system has security issues and data breeches but what can be done with this data?
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u/FunPriority8358 14d ago
From the looks of this class action lawsuit in California the issue is that it seems like people that aren’t supposed to have access to your data are getting access to it easily and with permission of flock in some cases.
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u/WhyIsItAlwaysADP 15d ago
Unlike a traditional police officer who needs reasonable suspicion to pull a car over, these systems automatically photograph and log every single passing vehicle. This builds a detailed historical database of when you leave for work, where you spend your free time, and who you visit, without any individual suspicion of wrongdoing.
While a city might purchase the cameras to catch specific local suspects, the data is frequently shared with a massive network of other regional, state, and nationwide law enforcement agencies. Once the data leaves your local community, you lose control over who accesses it and what regulations apply to it.
Automated systems are not perfect. If a license plate is misread by the software (a "false positive"), or if a database hasn't been updated to show a vehicle was recovered or sold, a law abiding citizen could find themselves subject to a high-risk traffic stop by police acting on incorrect automated alerts.
Flock maintains a massive centralized database of vehicular movements. Mass accumulation of data creates a honeypot for potential cybersecurity breaches or unauthorized insider snooping by individuals with access to the system.
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u/JudgeWhoOverrules 15d ago
Unlike a traditional police officer who needs reasonable suspicion to pull a car over, these systems automatically photograph and log every single passing vehicle.
A police office or even random person doesn't legally need anything to photograph and log every single passing vehicle. This is because legally no one has the expectation of privacy in public. It why legally you can have random people in pictures you take in public without needing to ask their permission.
if a database hasn't been updated to show a vehicle was recovered or sold, a law abiding citizen could find themselves subject to a high-risk traffic stop by police acting on incorrect alerts.
Has been a risk since ever because regular cops first used paper lists of stolen car plates then their in-car computers.
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u/Emotional_Formal2049 15d ago
So what can be done with this info? I asked for people to reply with actual uses, and you didn’t.
Anyone can take a photo of your car in public, which is legal, this is just automated and also not an invasion of privacy.
Officer know that errors occur and would verify the plate. Trust but verify.
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u/Replaceableuser 13d ago
The are cases here: https://www.404media.co/tag/flock/
There are real concerns about mass surveillance, the use of AI in the devices misidentifying "suspects", a shocking lack of security and data leakage, and turning our communities into deeply flawed, autonomous, police states. With how much the PD talks about earning the trust with the public and partnership with their communities, you'd think they would see the obvious hypocrisy of employing these policing tactics.
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u/OstrichOk8129 13d ago
Any updates after the meeting?
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u/FunPriority8358 13d ago
The Chandler City Council cancelled a planned vote on the future of the controversial flock cameras until mid July.
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u/Purple_Strawberry_99 14d ago
What can be done with the info is you can watch a person leave their home and then follow them to wherever they’re going using cameras with plenty of time to watch them drive all the way back. Plenty of time to rob you. Just think of what a person could do if they knew exactly where you were at all times, because that’s what flock does…films you from light pole to light pole. Flock cameras are about as easy to connect to as a Bluetooth speaker. Seriously like hacker 101 stuff, sometimes no hacking even needed. I’ve stood next to them and got in. Sometimes the passcode is even written on the trailer they’re hauled in on. They’re so clear, you can zoom them in and read what’s on a person’s phone. They are so much worse than you can ever imagine. It’s not just cops that can get into them, it’s any person that’s slightly computer literate. Wanna know where your boyfriend is? Flock him. Wanna know who your boyfriend’s texting with? Flock him.
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u/Legitimate_Energy701 12d ago
Instead of listening to the people they kicked the can down the road, is that the case?
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u/paolohu 15d ago
Yeah ending Flock worked out super great for Austin this last weekend. Maybe know what you are taking about.
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u/Replaceableuser 13d ago
And it clearly worked out super great for San Diego (with an active flock contract) this past Monday.
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u/brighteyes_bc 15d ago
The meeting is May 21 if you want to show up. Here’s a group organizing about it:
https://eastvalleyunite.org