Flock Safety cameras are automated license plate reader cameras installed on poles and at intersections across Cedar Rapids. They photograph every passing vehicle and record the license plate, time, location, and vehicle details like make, model, stickers, and visible damage.
This data is stored in a searchable database and shared with law enforcement agencies across Iowa and the country. Police can track where a vehicle has been, run searches without a warrant, and receive real-time alerts when a "flagged" vehicle is detected.
In practice, these cameras, leased from a private tech startup, create a permanent record of where residents drive, when they travel, and who they associate with. This private company is building a massively valuable database of everyone's movement around town as they go to school, the store, and church, turning everyday movement into a form of mass surveillance.
See this video for an explanation.
Know What to Look For
Flock cameras are typically mounted on poles and look like this:
- • Usually mounted 10-14 feet high
- • Solar panel on top
- • Black camera housing
- • Often near intersections or major roads
Currently being misused
Flock is marketed as a crime-fighting tool, but access to the system can extend well beyond a local investigation. Agencies with permission can run searches across a broader network without a warrant requirement built into the platform, and oversight varies by department.
Recent reporting and audits have documented controversial uses, including immigration-related lookups run through local agencies, and alleged instances where federal agencies such as ICE accessed license plate reader data in ways that raised compliance concerns under state privacy laws.
