Florida orders removal of license plate readers from state highways amid growing Flock backlash
PN Team • 2 months ago
The Florida Department of Transportation has revoked permission for law enforcement to operate automated license plate readers on state highway rights-of-way, giving agencies 30 days to remove them. The order, which covers all camera makers including Flock Safety, Axon, and Motorola, cites a surge in deployments and "concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes." Gov. Ron DeSantis had previously called the technology's spread "out of control." The rule does not affect cameras on local roads or private property, where most devices are located, but several Florida cities and counties, including Jacksonville, Pasco, Manatee, and Oviedo, are independently pulling their own cameras.
The move follows a broader national pullback: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halted state funding for Flock cameras after a police officer was indicted for misusing the database, while cities in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Massachusetts have suspended or canceled contracts over privacy concerns. The Institute for Justice counts 144 local governments that have dropped ALPR contracts in 2025, marking a rapid shift in Flock's political and public standing.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Ron DeSantis DeSantis is portrayed as proactively criticizing unchecked surveillance technology, aligning him with privacy-conscious policy action.
- Wisconsin Wisconsin cities are cited as canceling ALPR contracts over privacy concerns, reflecting negative sentiment toward the technology's use there.
- Florida Florida is the site of a state-level policy action addressing surveillance concerns, portraying it as responsive to privacy issues.