Florida blocks Flock cams on state highways
Summary
Florida's Department of Transportation has ordered the removal of Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers from state highways within 30 days, citing concerns over privacy and misuse.
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Florida is banning Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers across state highways, as <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/florida-bans-flock-license-plate-readers-state-highways-rcna595420">reported earlier by NBC News</a> and <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/florida-bans-flock-license-plate-readers-state-highways-rcna595420">local news outlet WUSF</a>. In <a href="https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/design/bulletins/eom26-01.pdf?sfvrsn=52938dee_1&Status=Master">a memo on Monday</a>, 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.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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 …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/987353/florida-flock-cam-ban-state-highways">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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# Florida blocks Flock cams on state highways
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/987353/florida-flock-cam-ban-state-highways](https://www.theverge.com/tech/987353/florida-flock-cam-ban-state-highways)
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Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers must be removed from state highways within 30 days\.
Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers must be removed from state highways within 30 days\.
by
Sep 1, 2026, 1:17 PM UTC
Photo by Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images
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Emma Roth
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more\. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO\.
Florida is banning Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers across state highways, as[reported earlier by NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/florida-bans-flock-license-plate-readers-state-highways-rcna595420)and[local news outlet WUSF](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/florida-bans-flock-license-plate-readers-state-highways-rcna595420)\. In[a memo on Monday](https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/design/bulletins/eom26-01.pdf?sfvrsn=52938dee_1&Status=Master), 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](https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/08/26/desantis-calls-flock-camera-surveillance-out-of-control-urges-legislative-action/)about Flock cameras and license plate readers, saying they’re “out of control\. Last month,[Texas Governor Greg Abbott froze](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/986541/texas-governor-abbott-flock-cameras)state spending on Flock cameras as backlash surrounding the cameras grows\. Several communities, including[Lansing, Michigan](https://www.wilx.com/2026/08/25/lansing-council-adopts-resolution-end-flock-safety-camera-contracts/);[Tempe, Arizona](https://www.wbaltv.com/article/tempe-removing-flock-cameras-misuse/73544204); and[Knox County, Tennessee,](https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/09/01/knox-county-commission-passes-emergency-ordinance-remove-flock-cameras-heres-what-happens-next/)have ended Flock camera contracts as well\.
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