GoKawiilFlock reinstalled license plate cameras in Grass Valley, CA after city canceled contract
Grass Valley Police Department ended its contract with Flock Safety and removed the company's license plate cameras, but Flock reinstalled at least two of them without authorization weeks later. Flock says its automated maintenance system misread the city's early camera removal as an equipment failure, triggering repair crews to dispatch and replace units. GVPD says it continues to monitor for and remove any cameras Flock puts back up.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The incident highlights a recurring pattern of Flock's surveillance cameras persisting or reappearing even after communities formally reject them, raising questions about how much control local governments actually retain once the equipment is installed. It adds to mounting scrutiny of Flock over data sharing, misuse by police, and the broader expansion of automated surveillance networks across the U.S.
- Grass Valley PD canceled its Flock contract and removed cameras, but Flock reinstalled at least two without permission.
- Flock blames an automated maintenance system that misinterpreted the city's early camera removal as an equipment fault.
- The episode adds to growing criticism of Flock's surveillance practices, oversight gaps, and contract enforcement issues nationwide.
Source: techspot.com — Rob Thubron, 2026-09-08
Published there as: “California city canceled Flock, removed its cameras, then found the company had put some of them back”
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