WECT INVESTIGATES: Flock cameras spark debate between safety and privacy
WECT INVESTIGATES: Flock cameras spark debate between safety and privacy
https://www.wect.com/2026/06/01/wect-investigates-flock-cameras-spark-debate-between-safety-privacy/
Publish Date: 2026-06-02 05:49:00
Source Domain: www.wect.com
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – License plate readers have become a staple of roads nationwide, including in southeastern North Carolina, sparking a debate between safety and privacy.
Flock cameras take pictures of license plates every time a vehicle drives past, with the pictures then uploaded into a server and kept, typically, for at least 30 days before being deleted.
Law enforcement can use the cameras to search a license plate, or even the type or color of a car, to see every place and time a vehicle drove past a reader within the timeframe the scans are available. It’s a useful tool for law enforcement, but critics argue it’s an example of government outreach.
“I believe in freedom. I didn’t sign up to live in China. And I don’t want the government watching me,” said Mark Williams, a Wilmington attorney who’s part of the DeFlock organization.
A map created by DeFlock, a national organization advocating against Flock cameras, reveals license plate readers in all five counties in southeastern North Carolina. The map uses crowdsourced data to show where cameras are located.
The New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus County Sheriff’s Offices all confirmed they have contracts with Flock. The Wilmington Police Department doesn’t have a contract, a city spokesperson confirmed. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office’s deal with Flock is for $219,000, according to a copy of the agreement obtained through a public records request.
None of the sheriff’s offices agreed to answer questions on camera.
A spokesperson for the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said the agency uses the readers “as another investigative tool to help protect the community and support public safety efforts.”
“Much like surveillance cameras or witness statements, ALPR technology helps deputies identify vehicles connected to criminal investigations, locate stolen vehicles, and develop investigative leads,” the spokesperson’s statement said.
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