Alexandria to release map of all Flock camera locations as scrutiny continues

This Thursday, Alexandria officials say they'll release a publicly accessible map of all Flock camera locations in the city.

That same day, the city will begin a third-party audit of its surveillance programs, according to new information shared by the Alexandria Police Department (APD) after a Sept. 8 city council meeting.

Alexandria police shared a long list of answers to questions raised by residents during that meeting about Flock and other Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in the city.

Police say they will only use ALPR searches for legitimate law enforcement purposes, such as a criminal investigation or a missing persons case. An alert on a vehicle during that search is not evidence on its own, the department clarified.

"An ALPR alert is an investigative lead, not automatic confirmation that a vehicle or person is involved in criminal activity," police said on the Q&A page.

Police also said they don't use data from the cameras for immigration enforcement and don't share data with federal agencies or law enforcement agencies outside Virginia without a valid court order.

"Access to APD's investigative ALPR systems is limited to trained, authorized personnel with a legitimate law enforcement purpose," the department says on the page. "Virginia law places restrictions on how ALPR information may be shared. APD does not sell ALPR data."

Part of the privacy concerns around Flock is that the AI cameras can operate as a network, meaning a user in one locality with access to the database can see data shared by users and cameras in another area.

But users must opt in to sharing the camera data. Flock says it's not shared by default, and the ACLU confirms this, despite the group being outspoken against tracking citizens' license plates without a warrant. Users can also decide how wide of a group their data is shared with.

The Q&A page says Alexandria police only shares license plate reader camera data with other agencies that have the same data use policies.

"Sharing with other law enforcement agencies must comply with Virginia law and APD policy. APD maintains the authority to suspend or terminate data-sharing access when appropriate," the page reads.

Alexandria is working to increase its transparency around license plate reader cameras amid a nationwide debate over the cameras' use, and whether the potential for increased safety is worth what some say is an invasion of privacy.

Other communities in Northern Virginia have already rolled back their use of ALPR cameras:

• Arlington has already chosen not to renew its Flock contracts, and the county board has begun a broader conversation over the future of the technology.
• Fairfax County has paused expanding its existing Flock program, pending a review, and the school system has banned use of ALPR cameras on school grounds.

During the early September city council meeting, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said she does not think there is a role for Flock cameras in Alexandria. Two other council members agreed.

A proposal for a statewide ban of Flock cameras in Virginia has bipartisan support, and the issue will be taken up in the 2027 General Assembly session.