Mountain View terminates license plate reader contract with Flock Safety

City leaders say the move reflects residents' privacy concerns and aligns public safety practices with community trust and new county surveillance rules.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Mountain View has shut off all 30 of its automated license plate reader cameras and voted to terminate its contract with vendor Flock Safety after discovering unauthorized federal access to local data.

Why it matters

The decision to end the license plate reader program in Mountain View reflects growing concerns among residents about privacy and the use of surveillance technology by local governments. This move aligns the city's public safety practices with new county-level rules aimed at increasing transparency and community trust around surveillance programs.

The details

Mountain View's city leaders voted to terminate the contract with Flock Safety, the vendor that provided the 30 automated license plate reader cameras used in the city. This decision came after the city discovered that federal agencies had unauthorized access to the data collected by the cameras, raising privacy concerns among residents.

  • Mountain View shut off all 30 of its automated license plate reader cameras.
  • Mountain View voted to terminate its contract with vendor Flock Safety.

The players

Flock Safety

A vendor that provided the 30 automated license plate reader cameras used in Mountain View.

Mountain View

The city that terminated its contract with Flock Safety and shut off the automated license plate reader cameras due to privacy concerns.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tension between public safety initiatives and individual privacy rights, as well as the need for local governments to be transparent and accountable when implementing new surveillance technologies in their communities.