Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flock?
Flock is a company that sells automated license plate readers.
What are automated license plate readers?
Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are cameras that continually monitor all vehicle traffic and perform data analysis on each vehicle to uniquely identify and track it across the ALPR network.
Do other companies sell ALPRs?
Yes, Fairfax County also has a contract with Axon, another ALPR vendor.
Why are ALPRs different than other traffic cameras?
Speed cameras and red light cameras do not constantly run. They are triggered by specific traffic violations. CCTV footage is only accessible by the owner of the CCTV camera.
ALPRs continually monitor all traffic and perform data collection on this footage to track every vehicle’s movements. Police departments frequently share this surveillance data with out-of-state and federal agencies. Those agencies can use that data however they want, without a warrant.
What are some examples of Flock abuse?
Flock cameras have been used to:
- Assist ICE’s immigration crackdown.
- Surveil activists at No Kings protests.
- Track a Texas woman getting an abortion.
- Tell an innocent citizen, “You can’t get a breath of fresh air…without us knowing.”
- Incorrectly target innocent people, who were held at gunpoint.
- Stalk police officers’ ex-partners.
Have Flock cameras been abused in Fairfax county?
Yes, Flock cameras in Fairfax county have been used by ICE to track undocumented immigrants.
Is FCPD conducting Flock searches on undocumented immigrants?
No, but since FCPD has shared the data from its Flock cameras with other agencies (and those agencies share with others), federal immigration agencies had access to FCPD Flock footage.
Why doesn’t FCPD simply limit who it shares its Flock data with?
A 2025 Virginia law limits all police departments from sharing Flock data with out-of-state and/or federal agencies. There is no reason to believe FCPD is breaking this law. However, a report from the Crime Commission shows that at least 19% of Virginia police departments do share their Flock data with out-of-state and/or federal agencies. If FCPD shares its Flock data with any of those agencies, then the data is still accessible by agencies which should not legally have access.
Which Virginia police departments are breaking the law?
The Crime Commission’s report did not say.
But won’t Flock cameras make police officers’ jobs easier?
Flock has made an unethical study overblowing its own usefulness for crime prevention. It is of course easier for a police officer to find information without needing a warrant. But unchecked surveillance poses a greater safety risk than the supposed benefits. Those safety risks always start with our most vulnerable neighbors, such as our vital immigrant community.
What is your goal?
For FCPD to terminate its contract with Flock and any ALPR vendor.
How can I help?
Sign up for our newsletter! If you represent an organization, consider adding your support to this cause. Right now, we’re building support so we can show the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that this is an issue that concerns our community.