Florida’s Department of Transportation ended the era of automated plate reading on state roads Monday, revoking the general-use permits behind cameras such as Flock Safety’s and ordering them gone within 30 days. The memo cited “concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes” and warned that leftover devices would be removed by the state.
The order lands days after Governor Ron DeSantis called the technology “out of control” and warned against a “digital AI surveillance state.” He pointed to a Brevard County deputy accused of using Flock access to stalk an ex-girlfriend, and to worries that driver movement data could be sold to advertisers.
Local agencies moved quickly. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood shut down his county’s readers immediately, and Brevard, Hernando, Putnam and Alachua counties followed within hours.
FDOT’s authority covers cameras in the right-of-way of roads on the state highway system, so devices on private property and local streets are unaffected. Flock defended the technology as a public safety tool, noting its role in solving crimes and recovering stolen vehicles. An Electronic Frontier Foundation database lists Flock contracts with at least 100 Florida agencies.
Florida is the second state to act this month. Texas froze its funding for Flock cameras last week after a Lufkin officer was indicted on 100 felony counts for unauthorized database searches, and St. Paul, Minnesota pulled its readers in August once immigration agents gained access to the data.
