Kerrville police clarify license plate reader use, say department does not have Flock cameras

Fairfax County police say artificial intelligence-powered traffic cameras have helped solve thousands of cases. Related stories From AI cameras to drones, Fairfax Co. uses new technology in policing Fairfax County police add life-saving technology to some patrol cars ‘2026 difference maker’: How a drone is helping Fairfax Co.

police respond to emergencies faster But a new watchdog group wants them removed immediately. DeFlock Fairfax said the license plate-reading cameras collect driver data without a warrant and fears some information is shared with out-of-state and federal law enforcement agencies. “The cameras have been used to track protesters exercising their First Amendment rights,” said Matthew Lofgren, a lead organizer with DeFlock Fairfax.

“ICE has gained access to over 80,000 cameras nationally. These cameras are relatively new, and the question is are they worth the civil liberties violation of a loss of privacy.” The group will host a public forum next week titled “The Road to Mass Surveillance: The Harms of AI Surveillance Cameras in Fairfax County,” featuring experts who plan to discuss concerns surrounding the technology. “While ICE might be perceived as a left-wing concern, I’ve found broadly that people on the right and the left really have a lot of concerns with these cameras,” Lofgren told WTOP.

“They’ve been used to track people who are going to gun shows. This is something that concerns all Americans.” Lofgren also questioned how long information can remain in the Flock database. A Virginia law passed last year established a 21-day retention requirement.

Fairfax County police said they voluntarily adopted that practice before the law took effect last summer. But Lofgren said the law’s exemption of Flock data from Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act makes it difficult to determine how the department uses the data or how long it is retained. “It’s impossible to tell if FCPD is violating the law or not,” he said.

In a written statement to WTOP, the Fairfax County Police Department said the technology is working, and it has strict measures in place to detect misuse. “The potential misuse or abuse of technology is a serious concern and requires meaningful safeguards and oversight,” the police department wrote. “FCPD has approached LPR technology with that responsibility in mind.