Wisconsin Communities Reconsider Flock License Plate Cameras Over Privacy Concerns

Wisconsin residents may enjoy summer staples such as fried cheese curds, corn on the cob, and Spotted Cow. But automated license plate reader cameras operated by Flock Safety are leaving some communities with a serious case of privacy-related indigestion.

Over the past several months, cities and towns across Wisconsin have reconsidered or ended their agreements with Flock Safety, citing concerns about privacy, data sharing, and public trust. As more communities leave the network, another issue has become increasingly clear: every departure reduces the amount of information available to the law enforcement agencies that remain connected to the system.

Dane County, which includes the city of Madison, is one of Wisconsin’s most populous counties and was also a major Flock user. The county had 24 automated license plate reader cameras in operation. However, following complaints from residents and privacy advocates, the Dane County Board of Supervisors voted on April 16 to cut $80,000 in county funding for the system. The board also banned the use of Flock cameras and prohibited “further spending on the system.”

“There are well-documented concerns about how this company operates and uses its technology in ways that may violate people’s Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches,” County Board Chairman Patrick Miles said. “The board’s actions will help protect our community from proven bad actors. We have full confidence in the sheriff and are open to considering other companies with stronger privacy and security measures.”

After the decision, Dane County’s Flock cameras went offline. That removed the county’s license plate data from the Flock network, which had previously been accessible to approximately 140 law enforcement agencies. Those agencies included local departments as well as police departments in Missouri, New York, and Tennessee.

The city of Madison, meanwhile, has avoided Flock cameras altogether. According to the city’s official privacy and security information, Madison does not use “automatic license plate readers, gunshot detection systems, or gait analysis software.”

Monona, another city in Dane County, announced in early May that a contract with Flock Safety was still “under consideration.” The Monona police chief supports automated license plate readers, saying Flock technology helped solve “a seduction case involving a suspect transporting a vulnerable adult across state lines.”

Despite that support, local officials also raised concerns about privacy, government accountability, and maintaining public trust. The debate in Monona reflects a broader question facing Wisconsin communities: whether the investigative benefits of Flock’s nationwide license plate camera network outweigh the potential risks of widespread vehicle tracking and data sharing.