--- title: "Flock Cameras Face Privacy Backlash Across US Counties" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/flock-cameras-face-privacy-backlash-across-us-counties" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/flock-cameras-face-privacy-backlash-across-us-counties" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/flock-cameras-face-privacy-backlash-across-us-counties.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/flock-cameras-face-privacy-backlash-across-us-counties" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-15T01:05:23.069Z" source_reported: "2026-08-14T23:12:26.487Z" updated: "2026-08-15T01:05:23.069Z" trust_score: 62 critic_score: 58 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-15T02:15:20.817673+00:00" --- # Flock Cameras Face Privacy Backlash Across US Counties *Local governments review contracts after errors, misuse and damage to licence-plate readers* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Corroborated across 7 outlets. - Craft 58 of 100, higher is better. Lacks direct quotes and specific details. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Sensationalized headlines and loaded language. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Flock Safety cameras, used by police to read licence plates, have been damaged in El Paso County, Colorado, and other areas. - Several counties are reviewing contracts after reports of privacy violations, including misidentified plates and unauthorised tracking by officers. - Flock is reducing data retention from 30 days to 7 and requiring stricter rules for law enforcement access. - Right-rated outlets linked opposition to the cameras to abortion activists; no left-rated outlet ran the story. Flock Safety cameras, which read and store licence-plate data for law enforcement, have faced growing opposition across the US. Several counties are reviewing their contracts with the company after reports of privacy breaches, including misidentified plates and unauthorised use by police officers. KRDO reported that in one case, a zero was mistaken for the letter O, resulting in a wrongful ticket. In El Paso County, Colorado, three Flock cameras operated by the sheriff’s department were damaged, along with four others used by the Fountain Police Department. KRDO also reported that a former police officer used the system to track his ex-girlfriend, sending her messages that included her location. Flock Safety told KRDO it is tightening regulations for law enforcement access and reducing the time licence-plate data is stored from 30 days to 7. Mayors in Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, have acknowledged public concerns about the cameras. Inforum reported that West Fargo Mayor Eric Gjerdevig said the cameras are one of the most common issues residents raise with him, while Fargo Mayor Josh Boschee said he has privacy concerns but trusts local police. ## What the coverage left out No left-rated outlet ran the story. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the cost of the cameras, the number of counties reviewing contracts, or the specific cases of misidentified plates and unauthorised tracking reported by KRDO. The centre-rated reports did not address the link between opposition to the cameras and abortion activists. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 33% (2) - Right: 67% (4) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-15T02:15:20.817673+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-15T03:00:18.017Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The two centre-rated reports focused on local government responses and specific privacy breaches. KRDO’s full report led on the damage to cameras in El Paso County and the cases of misidentified plates and unauthorised tracking. It quoted Flock Safety’s statement on new regulations and shorter data retention. Inforum’s digest noted that mayors in Fargo and West Fargo have heard concerns from residents, with West Fargo’s mayor calling it one of the most common issues raised. ### Right - All four right-rated digests linked opposition to Flock cameras to abortion activists. ussanews.com, LifeNews.com and The Daily Signal each carried identical wording: “Who are among those opposing Flock cameras? Abortion activists in...” The National Desk framed the story as a question to readers, asking whether they considered the cameras a threat to privacy. None of the digests mentioned the damage to cameras, the misidentified plates, or Flock’s changes to data retention rules. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 2 - mixed: 1 - high: 3 - unknown: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Inforum](https://inforum.com/news/fargo/flock-cameras-draw-privacy-concerns-across-fargo-moorhead) — Flock cameras draw privacy concerns across Fargo-Moorhead - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/14/why-do-flock-cameras-need-to-be-about-abortion) — Why Do Flock Cameras Need to Be About Abortion? - [LifeNews.com](https://lifenews.com/2026/08/14/abortion-activists-oppose-flock-cameras-heres-why) — Abortion Activists Oppose Flock Cameras. Here’s Why - [KRDO](https://krdo.com/telemundo/noticias-locales/2026/08/14/camaras-de-trafico-conocidas-como-flock-causan-controversia-por-riesgos-de-violacion-de-privacidad) — Traffic Cameras Known as "Flock" Cause Controversy over Privacy Breach Risks - [The Daily Signal](https://dailysignal.com/2026/08/14/flock-cameras-abortion) — Why Do Flock Cameras Need to Be About Abortion> - [hopnews.com](https://hopnews.com/lte-flock-cameras-and-privacy-concerns) — LTE: Flock Cameras and Privacy Concerns - [The National Desk](https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/vote-do-you-think-flock-cameras-are-a-threat-to-your-privacy-surveillance-oversight-company-changes-usage-abuse-prevention-safety) — VOTE: Do you think Flock cameras are a threat to your privacy? ## Questions **What privacy concerns have been raised about Flock cameras?** Reports describe cases where Flock cameras misidentified licence plates, leading to wrongful tickets, and where police officers used the system to track individuals without authorisation. KRDO reported a former officer used it to monitor his ex-girlfriend. Several counties are reviewing contracts due to these privacy breaches. **How is Flock Safety responding to the backlash?** Flock Safety told KRDO it is tightening regulations for law enforcement access to its system and reducing the time licence-plate data is stored from 30 days to 7. The company did not specify what the new rules would require, but said they would apply before officers could search for suspects. **Which outlets linked opposition to Flock cameras to abortion activists?** Three right-rated outlets, ussanews.com, LifeNews.com and The Daily Signal, each carried identical wording linking opposition to the cameras to abortion activists. None of the centre-rated reports or the unrated letter to the editor mentioned this connection. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/flock-cameras-face-privacy-backlash-across-us-counties. 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