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May 28, 20261
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Ohio City Covers Flock Surveillance Cameras With Trash Bags Over Contract Uncertainty
Dayton, Ohio covered Flock license plate reader cameras with trash bags as a stopgap measure after discovering data was shared with immigration authorities and facing uncertainty about contract termination. The move reflects broader national concerns about private surveillance infrastructure and cities' limited ability to control their own surveillance systems.
Quick Facts
Who
City of Dayton, Ohio
What
Covered Flock cameras with black trash bags
When
May 28, 2026 (article publication)
Where
Dayton, Ohio
- Covered Flock cameras with black trash bags
- Data from cameras was shared with federal immigration enforcement
- Conducted $30,000 audit into camera usage
- Suspended use of fixed-site automated license plate readers
- Police officer failed to implement privacy safeguards
The city of Dayton, Ohio has resorted to covering its Flock automated license plate reader cameras with black trash bags as a temporary measure while grappling with the complexities of terminating its surveillance contract. The unconventional step was taken after months of public backlash, following the discovery that camera data was being shared with federal immigration authorities without the city's knowledge or apparent consent. A $30,000 audit into the cameras' usage prompted city officials to take action, with Deputy City Manager Joe Parlette announcing that the Dayton Police Department agreed to work with Public Works to bag the cameras pending their complete removal.
The data-sharing incident came to light in October when Dayton learned that information from its Flock cameras was being passed to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement through Flock's national network. The city attributed the breach to a police officer who failed to enable privacy safeguards designed to prevent such sharing. In response, the police department suspended use of its fixed-site automated license plate readers in May and announced the officer's departure. Police Chief Kamran Afzal expressed strong disapproval of the situation, stating the incident was far more serious than merely "disappointing."
Dayton is not alone in this predicament. Evanston, Illinois similarly covered its Flock cameras with trash bags while awaiting removal, and officials in Menominee, Wisconsin reported that cameras were activated without proper city council authorization. The widespread difficulty cities face in extricating themselves from Flock contracts reflects a broader concern about private surveillance infrastructure. City officials in multiple jurisdictions have expressed uncertainty about contractual obligations, the ability to unilaterally deactivate systems, and even whether cameras remain active and continue recording. These challenges have prompted many cities nationwide to reconsider their relationships with the surveillance company following investigative reporting that exposed the data-sharing pipeline to federal immigration enforcement.
Why This Matters
This case highlights critical gaps in surveillance governance: cities are discovering they cannot easily control or terminate contracts with private surveillance vendors, raising urgent questions about public accountability and data protection. The unauthorized data-sharing with federal immigration enforcement demonstrates how surveillance infrastructure can be exploited beyond its original municipal purpose, affecting vulnerable populations without explicit consent. For residents and policymakers, this underscores the need for stronger contractual oversight, transparency requirements, and the ability to unilaterally deactivate systems.