Cities Slam Brakes on Surveillance: 2025’s Bold Stand Against Big Brother Tech
In 2025, cities realized that surveillance procurement is a political choice, not just an administrative task. By treating technology purchases as political decisions, at least 23 jurisdictions have rejected Flock Safety ALPR programs. The lesson? Surveillance is a choice, not a mandate, and communities have the power to refuse it.
Hot Take:
Hey Big Brother, it looks like cities are finally swiping left on your surveillance tech! In 2025, municipalities across the U.S. gave a collective “nah” to automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) programs, treating them less like inevitable purchases and more like political hot potatoes. Who knew local councils had such a flair for drama? Pass the popcorn!
Key Points:
- In 2025, at least 23 jurisdictions rejected Flock Safety ALPR programs as political decisions rather than administrative necessities.
- Legacy procurement practices allowed vendors to exploit cities’ inertia, turning surveillance tech into “force multipliers” without proper oversight.
- Communities and officials began demanding evidence of efficacy and fiscal responsibility, leading to multiple cancellations of surveillance contracts.
- Surveillance procurement was reframed as a political issue, empowering constituents to influence decisions.
- Despite the trend, some cities, like Denver, still struggle with political pushback against mass surveillance.
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