Plymouth and Dayton struggle to remove Flock surveillance cameras

Plymouth and Dayton, Minnesota, have faced problems getting Flock Safety to disable or remove its licence plate cameras after deciding to end or pause their contracts. The incidents raise questions about how much control local authorities have over surveillance equipment once it is installed.

Plymouth’s council voted to terminate its contract in September, but after receiving no response for more than a month, Police Chief Eric Fadden ordered staff to disconnect the cameras’ power. Flock told Dayton it could take up to 60 days to remove equipment, then reconnected two cameras despite the city’s instruction not to carry out maintenance work. Similar disputes have arisen in Elgin, Illinois; Flock did not immediately comment.