Flock vs Axon: The Battle for Public Surveillance

Discussions around the use of public surveillance technology, particularly automated license plate readers (ALPRs), have become increasingly prominent. While systems like Flock can help law enforcement solve crimes and locate vehicles involved in Amber Alerts, among other uses, they have also raised concerns about privacy and the potential for mass surveillance.

As Abington Township considered replacing Flock with Axon when its current contract expires, Privacy Bee CEO Harry Maugans joined the discussion to examine what changes when agencies move from one surveillance provider to another and whether switching vendors meaningfully addresses the privacy concerns surrounding ALPR technology.

But changing the name on the surveillance system doesn’t necessarily change the privacy questions behind it. A license plate may be where a Flock scan starts, but it’s not where the privacy story ends. See how Flock tracking works, what it can reveal, and what you can do about it at DeFlock.com