Florida orders removal of all Flock cameras on state highways within 30 days, Ron DeSantis warns against ‘surveillance state’

The Florida Department of Transportation has confirmed that all Flock Safety cameras will be removed from roads on the state highway system. The move comes after a wave of anger from regular Americans over what’s perceived as a “surveillance state” and multiple reports of the technology being used illegally.

The memo, issued on Monday by the agency, confirms that all cameras on state highways must be removed within 30 days. Following its publication, sheriff’s offices in Jacksonville, Franklin County, Liberty County, and Putnam County have said they’re now planning to discontinue all use of Flock cameras.

As per Business Insider, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said: “LPR (license plate recognition) technology has proven to be an enormously valuable investigative tool, assisting our agency in solving serious crimes and locating missing and vulnerable individuals. However, given the decision made at the state level and the concerns expressed by members of our community, I have determined that discontinuing the use of this technology is the appropriate course of action at this time.”

“I don’t want to have this become a surveillance state”

This move comes after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis openly criticized Flock cameras, saying at a press conference in Jacksonville last week that he thinks the technology is “out of control”. He added, “I’m all about having law enforcement have tools to be able to hold criminals accountable. But I don’t want to have this become a surveillance state.”

DeSantis also referenced recent reports of cops using Flock cameras to stalk their partners, saying “When I see like a police officer using this to track like an ex-girlfriend, I’m like, ‘You know, what the hell’s going on?” and adding, “Go after criminals, great. Let’s all do that. But surveilling just regular Floridians’ movements and how that data’s used, you know, that’s a bird of a different feather.”

Florida’s move comes after Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley raised hackles by appearing on Fox News to argue that regular Americans must compromise their privacy and allow his tech into their communities. Langley said: When people talk about just one of these, privacy or safety, they’re prioritizing the wrong thing, and what we have to prioritize as a country is compromise. How do we have our safety, and how do we balance privacy?”

When quizzed about officers misusing the cameras, he argued that investigators would never have been able to discover this if the cameras weren’t there: “I don’t think that Flock created police abuse. I think we’re the first company to ever shine a light on it and build the tools to find it.”

Opposition to Flock cameras is becoming a rare bipartisan political issue, with everyone from Michigan Democratic hopeful Abdul El-Sayed on the left (who said, “Does it ever feel like you’re in a cage being watched?“) to now the firmly right-wing Ron DeSantis speaking out against them.

Flock Safety responded to the ban yesterday, saying, “Flock’s technology is an important public safety tool for law enforcement agencies across Florida, helping officers solve serious crimes, find missing people, recover stolen vehicles, and support safer communities. In just the last few weeks in Florida, the technology was used to find missing children, led to the arrest of a murder suspect, and assisted in solving numerous other crimes.

Rather than banning a critical public safety tool, we support thoughtful legislation and strong privacy, transparency, and accountability guardrails that ensure technology is used responsibly while preserving law enforcement’s ability to use effective tools to keep people safe.”