Ohio Cities Split on Flock Camera Use and Privacy

Drivers in Ohio are seeing varied approaches to automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, specifically those from Flock Safety. While police departments have used these cameras for years, communities are now reacting to privacy concerns and how data is shared. Some cities are adding restrictions, while others are ending their contracts entirely, as WYSO Public Radio reported.

More than 8,000 Flock cameras are reportedly installed across Ohio, according to an open-source database managed by the advocacy group DeFlock. This widespread presence has led to questions from residents about data privacy and inter-agency data sharing.

What are cities doing about Flock camera data sharing?

Cities like Cleveland are implementing guardrails on how Flock camera data can be accessed. After initial plans to expand the camera system faced public backlash, Cleveland City Council made changes.

Key actions in Cleveland:

• Approved a six-month contract extension for Flock cameras, rather than a full year.
• Removed itself from the national lookup network, preventing other cities and federal authorities from searching vehicles on Cleveland's cameras.

This means that for drivers in Cleveland, data from local cameras should not be accessible by outside agencies. The city is also reportedly looking into transitioning to Axon, a company that provides tasers, bodycams, and drones, for future surveillance needs.

Which Ohio cities are removing Flock cameras?

Other Ohio communities are choosing to remove Flock cameras entirely. Oxford, home to Miami University, initially saw its police review board recommend keeping the cameras with guardrails.

However, local residents voiced strong opposition, primarily over data sharing with other departments. The city council ultimately sided with residents.

Oxford's decision:

• City Council voted 6-to-1 to terminate the Flock Safety contract.
• Removed all 14 Flock cameras from the city.

This decision in Oxford demonstrates that community pushback can lead to the removal of ALPR cameras. Drivers there no longer have their license plates scanned by Flock cameras within city limits. Other areas, including Coshocton and Wyandot counties, have also ended their contracts with Flock Safety. Pierce Township in Clermont County is also removing its cameras, citing vandalism and high replacement costs.

For drivers concerned about their privacy, understanding where these cameras are located is important. You can check our live camera map at /map to see known locations. Knowing where these systems are active can help you make informed decisions about your routes.

The mayor of Lebanon recently sent a letter to Flock Safety with questions. Meanwhile, residents in Hamilton, near Oxford, continue to protest their city's decision to keep the cameras, motivated by Oxford's success in removing them.