Flock Safety cuts data retention, adds safeguards amid growing Arizona agency departures

Flock Safety announced new privacy and security safeguards Thursday as a growing number of Arizona cities and law enforcement agencies cancel contracts or investigate misuse of the company’s license plate reader cameras.

In a blog post, the company said it is cutting its recommended data retention period from 30 days to seven, requiring case codes for all law enforcement searches by the end of the year and mandating that agencies adopt its misuse-detection tool, which flags abnormal search activity for administrator review.

Flock also said it will automatically suspend users whose activity meets criteria for abnormal behavior.

The changes come as scrutiny of the technology intensifies around Phoenix, where multiple local departments have announced changes to their Flock contracts this week.

Surprise suspended its use of the cameras and placed an officer on leave after a routine audit found possible misuse. Goodyear took similar actions. An Apache Junction officer resigned during an investigation into his tracking of a family member.

The issue reportedly extends to departments across the country.

Flock partners with about 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Its cameras photograph passing vehicles and convert the images into searchable data, including vehicle details and location information.

State lawmaker teases new oversight

In response to the string of contract cancellations, Republican state Sen. Jake Hoffman said the concerns extend beyond one company.

“It is a mistake though to frame this severe privacy infringement as only a Flock problem,” Hoffman said in an X post, adding that other surveillance companies should be “reined in.”

Hoffman said he will introduce new legislation in the coming session.

🚨 STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT MASS SURVEILLANCE

Last year I drafted best-in-nation legislation and led a bipartisan coalition to rein in the privacy abuses and address the very real Fourth Amendment concerns associated with government mass surveillance technology, including those… pic.twitter.com/6f3NZXyPV2

— Jake Hoffman (@JakeHoffmanAZ) August 13, 2026

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