Florida blocks Flock cams on state highways

Florida is banning Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers across state highways, as reported earlier by NBC News and local news outlet WUSF. In a memo on Monday, Florida’s Department of Transportation says it’s revoking permits for all license plate readers, adding that they must be removed from state highways within 30 days.

As noted in the memo, Florida’s DOT says it’s issuing the order in response to the “recent exponential increase in deployments” of license plate readers, “coupled with concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes.” The agency is also halting future requests for license plate reader placements on state roadways.

The move comes about a week after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged concerns about Flock cameras and license plate readers, saying they’re “out of control. Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott froze state spending on Flock cameras as backlash surrounding the cameras grows. Several communities, including Lansing, Michigan; Tempe, Arizona; and Knox County, Tennessee, have ended Flock camera contracts as well.