LAPD pauses Flock contract to ‘iron out’ data privacy concerns

By Dakota Smith
Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday stopped working with a surveillance technology company over concerns about the data’s use, according to an LAPD official.

Flock Safety operates 138 pole-mounted cameras in Los Angeles, allowing authorities to track vehicles that have been reported stolen or are registered to known fugitives. It is one of a handful of vendors used by the city for automated license plate readers.

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Flock has been criticized for sharing its data with state and federal officials. Advocacy groups worry that information could help President Trump’s immigration crackdown.

In late May, L.A. City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion asking the Board of Police Commissioners to “refrain from entering into any new Memoranda of Understanding, Contracts, or other Agreements, or implement any pilot programs with Flock Safety or its affiliates.”

Dean Gialamas, LAPD’s chief information officer, told several news outlets that the LAPD is seeking more protections around the information collected by the agency.

“The sticking point is around having very clear terms about who owns the data, what happens with the data once they collect it,” said Gialamas.

He said the LAPD would stop using Flock “until we can get those data, privacy, security and sharing concerns ironed out through a contractual relationship.”

The LAPD signed a three-year agreement with Flock in July 2023 that was already set to expire Saturday.

LAPD officials previously announced that the Los Angeles city attorney’s office was working on drawing up a new contract. It’s unclear where that process is given Gialamas’ announcement.

An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment Saturday.

A Flock spokesperson on Saturday called the LAPD’s decision a “surprise.”

“We are confident that through ongoing discussions with…

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