FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to pause installation of new stationary Flock license plate readers while officials review privacy safeguards and seek answers about who can access the data.
The Sept. 15 motion passed by voice vote, with no opposition or abstentions recorded. It directs police to evaluate alternatives and report to the board's Safety and Security Committee in October, and calls for a letter seeking information from Flock Safety about data access, sharing and artificial intelligence tools.
The action leaves the county's existing 84 licensed stationary Flock cameras in operation.
Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville), who seconded Chairman Jeff McKay's (D-At-Large) motion, suggested the review could lead to a broader change.
"I certainly think this is probably the beginning of the end for Flock," Bierman said.
On the same day, the Arlington County Board ordered an end to its county-leased Flock camera program, directing the county manager to discontinue use and begin removing 41 cameras, citing residents' concerns. Arlington's decision does not affect privately owned cameras.
McKay said the Fairfax review is scheduled for Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m. He hopes the county will have answers from Flock before that discussion.
Responding to Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield), McKay said police had no new installations planned that would be disrupted by the pause. He also clarified that any action resulting from the committee discussion would return to the full board for a formal decision.
RELATED: Arlington County Board Orders End To Flock Camera Use
County offices have received hundreds of emails about Flock cameras, according to McKay's written board matter.
McKay said the proposal was developed with the county attorney and police department, which wants to explain how it uses the technology and the safeguards governing searches.
"There are some very real issues with the corporate entity that runs this program, and what they are doing with data," McKay said.
Fairfax's review comes amid growing national scrutiny of Flock's camera network. The cameras record license plates and other vehicle characteristics, allowing police agencies to search and share the information. Critics contend the network's reach amounts to warrantless mass surveillance, while police supporters describe it as an important investigative tool, The Associated Press reported.
The AP reported that opposition has grown alongside constitutional challenges and news reports documenting officers using the technology to stalk people they knew. Candidates from both major parties have called for bans, funding restrictions or warrant requirements, linking the debate to broader concerns about artificial intelligence and technology companies' power.
Flock defended its technology to the AP, saying it had helped solve approximately 1 million crimes and reunite roughly 10,000 missing people with their families. Company spokeswoman MoMo Zhou urged communities to establish rules governing its use rather than ban it. Law enforcement supporters interviewed by the AP likewise called for safeguards and accountability for misuse.
The letter to Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley seeks documentation showing who owns, controls and can access Fairfax County data.
It asks whether federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, can obtain the data directly or through another Flock customer. It also asks what technical barriers prevent unauthorized access and whether those protections have been independently tested.
Other questions concern whether county data can be used to develop AI tools and what prevents searches involving political or religious activity, reproductive health care or immigration.
According to McKay's board matter, police policy prohibits sharing data with federal law enforcement unless required by law. The document says county camera data is stored on county servers, permanently deleted after 21 days and subject to an audit of every search.
McKay said no instances of misuse by Fairfax County police have been identified.
Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill) asked whether data is also stored in the cloud and urged police to examine technical alternatives alongside policy protections. Supervisor Dalia Palchik (D-Providence) called for the review to address concerns about privately operated cameras as well.
Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D-Franconia), who chairs the board's Safety and Security Committee, urged colleagues to consider the investigative benefits alongside privacy concerns.
He described a case in which police located a stolen vehicle in Prince William County shortly after responding to a resident's home. The resident's dog and purse were also recovered, he said.
"This system, this Flock technology has some benefits too," Lusk said. "It helps us solve crimes."
Lusk also said the county should consider another vendor if it can offer stronger safeguards.
Some residents urged supervisors to go further during the carryover budget hearing later that day.
Marianne Germain, who identified herself as a Braddock District resident, called for the cameras to be removed and the contracts canceled. A speaker identifying herself as Mia, a Fairfax County resident representing DeFlock Fairfax, also opposed limiting the action to expansion.
"At minimum, these cameras need to be completely deactivated immediately," she said.
The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.
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