If you have seen small, solar-powered cameras mounted on poles along your neighborhood streets or local highways, you may be looking at Flock Safety cameras. With over 250,000 units deployed across 5,000+ communities in 49 states, Flock cameras are one of the fastest-growing surveillance networks in the United States. But unlike public traffic cameras operated by state DOTs, Flock cameras are law enforcement tools — and their feeds are not available to the public.
Here is everything you need to know about what Flock cameras are, whether you can view them online, and why they have become one of the most controversial surveillance technologies in the country.
What Are Flock Cameras?
Flock Safety cameras are Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) — not traditional traffic monitoring cameras. Founded in 2017 in Atlanta, Flock Safety sells camera systems primarily to police departments, HOAs, school districts, and private businesses. According to a Congressional Research Service report, 100% of police departments serving populations over 1 million use ALPR technology, and 75% of departments in cities with 100,000+ residents have adopted it.
Flock cameras are small, compact devices — typically a white or gray rectangular box about the size of a lunchbox, mounted on a short pole or attached to existing utility poles, street lights, or sign posts. Most models have a solar panel on top for power and a downward-facing lens aimed at passing vehicles. They are easy to miss if you are not looking for them, and are often confused with traffic sensors or neighborhood security cameras.
When a vehicle passes a Flock camera, the system captures a still image and uses computer vision to read the license plate and identify what Flock calls a "Vehicle Fingerprint" — the make, model, color, body type, and distinguishing features like bumper stickers, roof racks, or temporary plates. This data is transmitted via LTE cellular to Flock's cloud platform (FlockOS), where it is cross-referenced against the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), state watchlists, and AMBER/Silver alerts. Matches trigger real-time alerts to nearby officers.
Flock's product line includes three systems:
Falcon (ALPR)
The core product
Motion-activated still camera that reads license plates and captures vehicle fingerprints. Solar-powered with LTE connectivity. For a broader look at surveillance law, see our guide on traffic camera privacy compliance.
Condor (Video)
Surveillance camera
PTZ and bullet cameras with live video streaming and 30 days of recorded footage. Used for broader area surveillance.
Raven (Audio)
Gunshot detection
Acoustic sensor that detects and locates gunfire, triggering nearby Falcon and Condor cameras to capture evidence.
All captured data is stored for 30 days by default, then automatically deleted. Only authorized, trained personnel with FlockOS credentials can access the data — every search is logged and auditable. Cities typically pay $2,500 to $3,500 per camera per year, covering hardware, software, cellular data, and maintenance.
Can You Watch Flock Cameras Online?
No. Flock camera feeds are not publicly accessible. There is no public portal, no app, and no website where you can view Flock camera footage or look up license plate data. Access is restricted entirely to authorized law enforcement personnel and contracted private clients (HOAs, businesses) through FlockOS.
This is fundamentally different from DOT traffic cameras, which are designed for public use. State transportation agencies operate traffic cameras specifically so that drivers can check road conditions — Flock cameras exist for criminal investigations and surveillance.
Attempting to access FlockOS or Flock camera feeds without authorization would likely violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). Do not attempt to access any surveillance system you are not authorized to use.
What You CAN See Publicly
While you cannot watch Flock camera footage, several public resources provide transparency into how the system is used:
| Resource | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Flock Transparency Portal | Usage statistics, policies, and audit summaries for participating agencies |
| Eyes on Flock | Aggregated transparency data across U.S. agencies — camera counts, search volumes, data-sharing patterns |
| Have I Been Flocked | Search FOIA-obtained audit logs to see if your license plate appears in Flock records |
| DeFlock.me | Crowdsourced map of ALPR camera locations across the country |
| Atlas of Surveillance (EFF) | Broader surveillance tracking database that includes Flock deployments |
None of these provide live feeds, images, or video. They show where cameras are deployed and how the system is being used — not what the cameras are capturing.
Flock Cameras vs Traffic Cameras
People often confuse Flock cameras with the traffic cameras they see on highway overpasses and intersections. They serve entirely different purposes:
| Feature | Flock ALPR Cameras | Public Traffic Cameras |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Law enforcement surveillance | Traffic monitoring and public safety |
| What they capture | Still images of vehicles with plate/AI data | Continuous video of road conditions |
| Public access | None — law enforcement only | Publicly viewable on DOT sites and apps |
| AI analysis | Plate OCR, vehicle fingerprinting, watchlist matching | None or minimal (vehicle counts) |
| Data retention | 30 days, searchable database | Usually live-only or very short-term |
| Network scope | Cross-network search across 83,000+ cameras nationwide | Each DOT system is independent |
| Operator | Police, HOAs, private entities | State/city DOTs, transportation agencies |
| Cost to public | Taxpayer-funded via agency contracts | Taxpayer-funded via DOT budgets |
The key difference: traffic cameras are designed to be watched by the public. DOT cameras across all 50 states stream live feeds so drivers can check highway conditions, verify weather, and plan routes. Flock cameras capture data about individual vehicles for law enforcement databases — a fundamentally different function.
The Privacy Controversy
Flock cameras have become one of the most debated surveillance technologies in the U.S. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) published extensive investigations documenting serious concerns:
Scale of surveillance: San Jose police and other California agencies searched their local Flock database nearly 4 million times between June 2024 and June 2025 — all without warrants. A single Flock query can search across 83,000+ cameras spanning nearly the entire country.
Documented misuse: EFF investigations uncovered Flock being used to track protesters exercising First Amendment rights, a Johnson County (TX) officer searching across 83,000+ cameras for a woman who "had an abortion," and discriminatory searches targeting ethnic groups.
Security failures: In December 2025, investigative outlet 404 Media discovered approximately 60 Flock Condor cameras publicly accessible on the open internet with no authentication. Researchers used Shodan to find the cameras and watched live footage — including of children on a playground. Separately, stolen police credentials from malware-infected computers exposed FlockOS login credentials to hackers.
Cities pushing back: Over 30 cities have deactivated or canceled Flock contracts since early 2025, including Austin, Eugene, Cambridge, Evanston, Santa Cruz, Mountain View, and Flagstaff. Immigration enforcement concerns accelerated cancellations in early 2026 after Denver police records showed 1,400+ immigration-related Flock searches. The Brennan Center for Justice has called for comprehensive federal regulation of ALPR technology, noting that current laws "have not kept pace" with the rapid expansion of plate reader surveillance.
Court rulings on public records: In November 2025, a Washington state court ruled that Flock camera images qualify as public records subject to disclosure. Several Washington cities turned off their cameras rather than release the data. A similar Virginia ruling affirmed that citizens can request Flock data about their own vehicle through FOIA.
How to Find Flock Cameras Near You
If you want to know whether Flock cameras are deployed in your area, these resources can help:
Check DeFlock.me
The crowdsourced DeFlock project maps ALPR camera locations across the country. The EFF defended the project after Flock Safety sent a cease-and-desist letter.
Search Eyes on Flock
EyesOnFlock.com aggregates data from Flock's own transparency portals, showing which agencies use Flock, how many cameras they operate, and how frequently they search the database.
Check Your Local Government
Many cities publish Flock deployment information on their official websites or through public meeting minutes. Search your city or county name along with "Flock Safety" to find local records.
File a Public Records Request
Following the Washington state court ruling, Flock camera data from government-operated systems may be obtainable through FOIA or state public records requests. Note that Flock's standard 30-day auto-deletion means timing matters.
For finding cameras you can actually watch — public traffic cameras near your location — read on.
Cameras You CAN Watch Right Now
Flock cameras are locked behind law enforcement access. But there are 135,000+ live cameras across the world that are designed to be watched by anyone — and TrafficVision.Live puts them all in one place.
Interactive Map
Explore every camera on a zoomable map — zoom into your neighborhood or out to a whole continent, with smart clustering that scales
Route Builder
Plan any drive and see every live camera along the way — commute monitoring, road trip scouting, or checking conditions before you leave
130+ Countries
600+ official sources spanning all 7 continents — U.S. interstates, European motorways, Japanese expressways, even Antarctic research stations
Live Community
Chat with other viewers in real-time, mention cameras, and share what you are seeing on the road
Unlike Flock's restricted surveillance network, every camera on TrafficVision streams from official public sources — state DOTs, city transportation agencies, and public webcam networks. Live video, refreshing images, YouTube streams, and panoramic feeds. No account required, no paywalls, no restrictions.
Browse cameras in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, and hundreds more cities — or just open the map and start exploring.
See What Flock Won't Show You — The Actual Road
135,000+ live cameras from 600+ official sources. Highways, city streets, bridges, mountain passes, and coastlines across 130+ countries. Free and open to everyone.
OPEN THE LIVE MAP →What are Flock cameras used for?
Flock cameras are Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) used by law enforcement to scan and record the license plates and vehicle characteristics of every passing vehicle. The data is cross-referenced against NCIC watchlists, stolen vehicle databases, and AMBER alerts. Over 5,000 communities across 49 U.S. states use Flock cameras, operated by police departments, HOAs, and private entities.
Can you watch Flock cameras online?
No. Flock camera feeds are accessible only to authorized law enforcement and contracted clients through the FlockOS platform. There is no public portal, app, or website for viewing Flock footage. If you want to watch live cameras online, TrafficVision.Live is the world's largest live camera directory — 135,000+ publicly accessible feeds from 600+ official sources across 130+ countries, completely free with no account required.
What is the difference between Flock cameras and traffic cameras?
Traffic cameras are operated by state DOTs and transportation agencies to monitor road conditions — their feeds are publicly accessible on 511 websites and platforms like TrafficVision. Flock cameras are law enforcement surveillance tools that capture license plates and vehicle data for criminal investigations. Flock feeds are restricted to authorized personnel and are not viewable by the public.
Are Flock cameras recording me?
If you drive past a Flock camera, it captures a still image of your vehicle's rear — including your license plate, make, model, color, and distinguishing features. This data is stored for 30 days in Flock's cloud system. According to EFF research, the Flock network collectively scans over 20 billion vehicle movements per month across the United States.
How can I find out if there are Flock cameras in my neighborhood?
Check the crowdsourced map at DeFlock.me, search your city on EyesOnFlock.com, or look for Flock Safety mentions in your local government's public meeting minutes and police department budget documents. Many municipalities publish camera deployment information on their official websites.
135,000+ Live Cameras You Can Watch Right Now
Flock cameras are locked behind law enforcement access — but TrafficVision.Live is wide open. The world's largest live camera directory: highways, city streets, bridges, mountain passes, and coastlines across 130+ countries. Free, instant, no sign-up.
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