Community Pushback Against Surveillance Technology After Data Breach

On December 4, 2025, over 50 advocates gathered at Civic Center Plaza in San Diego, urging the city to halt its use of Flock automated license plate readers, or ALPRs. Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera and Henry Foster III joined the protest, chanting 'Get the Flock out!' and carrying signs stating 'Broken trust, needs repair.' This push comes ahead of a city council meeting where the San Diego Police Department's continued use of Flock's ALPR system will be discussed.

Advocates are concerned following a data breach that allowed unauthorized searches of San Diegans' travel information, with the reasons for those searches still unknown. The TRUST SD coalition, which stands for Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology San Diego, held a news conference highlighting Flock's issues, noting documented abuses in other states, including a police chief in Georgia charged with using the technology to stalk individuals.

Foster remarked that the pattern of abuse suggests deeper systemic issues with Flock, while Elo-Rivera emphasized that Flock's history makes them impossible to trust. Concerns also arise about potential data access by federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, leading to fears about the technology's implications for civil liberties.

Patricia Mondragon of Alliance San Diego warned that the use of such technology could erode trust in law enforcement, stating, 'When people are afraid to call for help, we are all less safe.' Although ALPR technology has been credited with assisting in 600 investigations, recovering $5.8 million in stolen property, and finding 440 stolen vehicles since its adoption in 2024, Councilmember Raul Campillo argued against discontinuing its use, claiming it is critical for public safety.

The Privacy Advisory Board recommended that San Diego cease using the Flock system, while the Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to continue its use without changes. The community's call for an end to Flock's ALPR technology reflects broader concerns about privacy rights and the implications of surveillance systems in public spaces, according to the report from Times of San Diego.