Across Orange County, residents are increasingly questioning the rapid expansion of Flock automated license plate reader cameras and what their growing use means for privacy and civil liberties. Santa Ana Councilwoman Jessie Lopez has been a vocal part of that conversation, calling for the city to review its Flock contract amid growing concerns about how residents’ data is collected, stored, and shared.
Those concerns became more urgent after public records showed that a Northern California fusion center accessed Santa Ana’s automated license plate reader system on behalf of multiple federal agencies within the Department of Homeland Security. Lopez has pointed to the discovery as a serious concern, saying the community was promised that its data would not be shared without consent. She is now seeking a review of Santa Ana’s Flock contract, including whether the city should ultimately end the agreement. As communities across Orange County continue to debate the role of surveillance technology, Lopez is pushing for greater transparency, accountability and meaningful community oversight over how residents’ information is used.
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