Flock Cameras Are in Missoula. Here’s Where to Find Them
I have seen a lot of online discourse about Flock Cameras. There's been a lot of negativity around it, so let's look into Flock Cameras in Missoula.
What are Flock Cameras?
"A Flock camera is a license plate reader camera built to identify vehicle details that may help generate investigative leads. That includes the license plate, along with attributes like make, model, color, and other visible characteristics." - Flocksafety.com
Flock Cameras are AI-designed cameras that track vehicles for "investigative leads." The cameras are operated by Flock, a private surveillance company operating in the U.S. Flock says its cameras don't use facial recognition, but critics argue technology is an invasion of privacy.
"People are upset because it's passive mass surveillance of everyone, not just suspects. Police can retroactively track where you've been, when, and how often, without a warrant," said one concerned citizen via Reddit (u/Puzzleheaded-Tax-152)
The cameras are a brand of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR).
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Are There Flock Cameras in Missoula?
In short, yes.
There are four Flock Cameras at the Lowe's on North Reserve Street, illustrated with the red circle, and five more cameras in the Southgate Triangle. The five cameras are listed as "Flock Traffic" cameras and aren't affiliated with a business.
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I suppose if you are hyperfixated on avoiding Flock Cameras, then no more Lowe's or Southgate Triangle for you. If this doesn't bother you, well, then carry on.
