GoKawiilFlock Safety spent over $2M lobbying politicians amid ALPR expansion push
Surveillance firm Flock Safety has donated nearly $500,000 to local and state candidates in Illinois alone over roughly two years, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The company spent more than $2 million nationwide on lobbying this election cycle, hiring firms including Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies and Mercury Public Affairs to court politicians from both parties as its network of automatic license plate readers has grown to nearly 150,000 devices.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The lobbying spend suggests Flock is trying to secure political goodwill as its surveillance footprint grows and public scrutiny intensifies. Yet despite this spending, voters in several towns from Texas to Maine rejected ALPR ballot measures, indicating that grassroots opposition to license-plate surveillance may be harder to overcome through campaign donations than through direct voter engagement. The mismatch between political spending and voter sentiment could shape how other surveillance companies approach expansion in the future.
- Flock Safety gave nearly $500,000 to Illinois campaigns over about two years, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
- The company spent over $2 million nationally on lobbying this election cycle via firms like Cozen O'Connor and Mercury Public Affairs.
- Voters in multiple states rejected ALPR ballot measures despite Flock's spending, often demanding consent requirements or contract cancellations.
Source: futurism.com — Joe Wilkins, 2026-11-10
Published there as: “Flock Safety Found Handing Out Fat Sacks of Cash to Friendly Politicians”
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