Where Every Flock Camera Is Here In Montana

What Is Flock and Why It’s Getting Attention

A lot of people these days are pretty rightly concerned about how much they’re being tracked and monitored.

Between companies, apps, and government systems, there are more ways than ever for data about you to get collected without you really thinking about it.

How Flock AI License Plate Readers Work

One system that’s starting to get a lot more attention is called Flock. If you haven’t heard of it yet, you probably will soon, because it’s already turning into a pretty big debate in a lot of communities, kind of like what we’re seeing right now with AI data centers.

Flock is an AI-powered automated license plate reader system, or ALPR. It’s used by police, some neighborhood HOAs, and even private businesses. It’s backed by investors including Peter Thiel, which has also added to some of the scrutiny around it.

These aren’t facial recognition cameras. Think of them more like a digital fingerprint for your vehicle. They capture things like your license plates along with details about the car itself, like make, model, color, and even things like roof racks, bumper stickers, or dents.

The Debate Over Surveillance, Safety, and Privacy

Supporters say it helps solve crimes and improve safety. Critics argue it can turn into a kind of unregulated surveillance network that tracks people’s movements way more than most realize.

Some cities have already started banning or limiting them, and now there are even websites popping up that map where these cameras are installed.

One of those is DeFlock, which currently lists just one Flock camera in Great Falls, located over near Home Depot.

If you want to see where others are around Montana, you can check out the DeFlock site here.