Fayetteville Bans Flock Cameras Amid Concerns Over Privacy and Misuse

The Fayetteville City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to pass an ordinance banning the use of automatic license plate reader (ALPR) systems, specifically those provided by Flock Safety. The 7-0 decision, reached during an October 6 meeting, ensures that the city will no longer employ these specific surveillance tools.

The new ordinance is narrowly focused. While Flock cameras are now prohibited, the ban does not apply to body cameras, dashboard cameras, or standard security and traffic cameras, provided they are not operating as part of an ALPR (Automatic License Plate Readers) system.

Fayetteville is not alone in this decision. Several other Arkansas municipalities, including Fort Smith, Cabot, Mayflower, Greers Ferry, and Searcy, have already suspended their use of Flock cameras, signaling a growing regional trend toward restricting this technology. In Harrison, the police department operates 2 Flock Safety units, sharing subscription costs with the Boone County Sheriff's Office, which also operates 2 units.

The push to limit ALPR systems often stems from concerns regarding privacy and the potential for officer misconduct. These concerns are highlighted by a recent audit from the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD). The audit revealed that an officer misused the Flock system by conducting 28 searches of a single license plate over a 10-day period between May 16 and May 26.

LRPD stated that the misuse was flagged during a quarterly audit and is currently under investigation. While the department cannot provide further details due to the ongoing probe, the incident underscores the risks associated with unregulated access to surveillance data.

Flock Safety cameras are designed to assist law enforcement in solving crimes by capturing and searching license plate data.. However, as more cities like Fayetteville move toward bans, the debate continues over how to balance the needs of effective law enforcement with the protection of citizen privacy.

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