Concerns over automated surveillance continue to spread across Oregon as yet another city steps away from using Flock Safety cameras, the license-plate-detecting technology now at the center of lawsuits and growing public pushback.
Woodburn Joins List of Cities Pausing Flock Camera Use
The City of Woodburn recently paused its use of Flock cameras, becoming the latest jurisdiction to halt or reconsider the technology. The move follows similar actions by multiple Oregon communities, including Eugene and Springfield.
The shift comes as Flock Safety faces legal scrutiny amid allegations that the company has shared data with federal immigration enforcement — a charge that has alarmed civil rights groups and privacy advocates.
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ACLU of Oregon Sues Eugene Over Concealed Camera Locations
In October, the ACLU of Oregon filed a lawsuit against the City of Eugene after officials initially refused to reveal the locations of the Flock license-plate readers. The lawsuit argued that hiding the placement of surveillance cameras “erodes public trust” and undermines transparency.
Facing mounting criticism, the city later disclosed the camera locations and paused the technology’s use pending further review.
The City of Springfield soon followed, suspending its own Flock camera program.
“A Slippery Slope”: Privacy Advocates Warn of Expanding Surveillance
Among the plaintiffs in the Eugene lawsuit is Eyes Off Eugene, a local advocacy group pushing for greater oversight of surveillance technology. Member Seth May said the concerns go far beyond a single contract.
“This type of technology has major consequences within our communities,” May said. “As they move forward, we have a slippery slope where surveillance will grow, and grow, and grow, and we will lose the freedoms that we have.”
May said the group wants the city to terminate its relationship with Flock entirely and rethink its approach to surveillance tools statewide.
“I would love to see the state come together and really change the way they think about these technologies and the way they think about mass surveillance, in general,” he added.
Flock Under Pressure Nationally
The controversy surrounding Flock Safety is not limited to Oregon. Earlier this summer, company CEO Garrett Langley announced Flock would no longer pursue a planned pilot program with Homeland Security Investigations, following concerns raised by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The concerns stemmed from an instance in which footage was reportedly shared with an out-of-state sheriff searching for a woman who had obtained an abortion.
Additionally, a judge in Washington ruled that Flock data is subject to public records requests, meaning the information is accessible not just to law enforcement but to members of the public as well.
The ruling has intensified debate nationwide about who should control surveillance data, how long it should be stored, and how it could be misused.
More Oregon Communities Turn Away from Flock Cameras
Following the court ruling, Skamania County disabled its Flock system entirely. Woodburn made a similar decision, with Mayor Frank Lonergan emphasizing that the city remains committed to public safety while also listening to residents’ concerns.
“We are committed to keeping our community safe while respecting the concerns of our community members,” Lonergan said.
As more Oregon cities step back from the technology, the debate over privacy, policing, and surveillance continues to intensify — and local advocates say the conversation is far from over.
