404 Media Requests Data on Axon ALPR Camera Usage by Police Departments

404 Media has filed requests with various police departments to obtain data on the usage of Axon's Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras, covering the period from January 1, 2025, to the date of processing. Notable departments involved include the Benton County Sheriff's Office in Washington, Falmouth Police Department in Maine, Johns Creek Police Department in Georgia, Ocean Shores Police Department in Washington, Pleasanton Police Department in Texas, and Red Wing Police Department in Minnesota. Reports indicate that local law enforcement has utilized Flock cameras for various purposes, including performing lookups for ICE and searching nationwide databases for individuals, such as a Texas officer searching for a woman who self-administered an abortion. 404 Media emphasizes the importance of this information to understand the implications of surveillance technology in local communities, stating, "We’ve seen with the nationwide conversation about Flock that local residents can do a lot to reveal how surveillance technology is being used in their own communities." This initiative follows a broader trend of increased scrutiny on surveillance practices, as seen in previous coverage of AI and law enforcement technologies.