Lynnwood Ends Contract with Surveillance Camera Company Flock

City council votes to remove license plate reader cameras due to privacy and data access concerns

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Lynnwood City Council has voted to cancel its contract with surveillance camera company Flock Safety and remove the license plate reader cameras installed around the city. Community members had raised concerns about privacy, hacking risks, and potential data access by federal agencies like ICE. The cameras had been paused since October, and will now be taken down.

Why it matters

This decision reflects growing public unease over the use of surveillance technology by local governments, especially around issues of privacy, data security, and government overreach. It highlights the tension between public safety and civil liberties that cities must navigate when adopting new technologies.

The details

The Lynnwood City Council voted to end its contract with Flock Safety and remove the company's license plate reader cameras from around the city. Community members had been pressing the council for some time to terminate the relationship, citing concerns about hacking, privacy violations, and the possibility of data being accessed by federal immigration enforcement. The cameras had been paused since October after the police department discovered that outside agencies had broader access to the collected data than intended.

  • The Lynnwood City Council voted to cancel the Flock contract on February 23, 2026.
  • The cameras had been paused since October 2025.

The players

Lynnwood City Council

The governing body of the city of Lynnwood, Washington that voted to end the city's contract with Flock Safety.

Flock Safety

A company that provides automated license plate reader cameras and surveillance technology to local governments.

Kylee Jardim

A Lynnwood community member who spoke out against the Flock cameras, arguing they amounted to "warrantless surveillance".

Quinn Van Order

A Lynnwood community organizer who helped lead the campaign to get rid of the Flock cameras, arguing the city did not control the network they ran on.

George Hurst

The mayor of Lynnwood who tried to delay the council's vote until after the state legislature decided on a bill regulating automated license plate readers.

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What they’re saying

“In my opinion, the Flock cameras are warrantless surveillance.”

— Kylee Jardim, Lynnwood community member (FOX 13 Seattle)

“I'm not okay with federal agencies accessing it, particularly ICE.”

— Kylee Jardim, Lynnwood community member (FOX 13 Seattle)

“At its core, these cameras don't run through a network we control.”

— Quinn Van Order, Lynnwood community organizer (FOX 13 Seattle)

“Earlier today I sent an email to the council asking for delay on their decision on using Flock cameras.”

— George Hurst, Lynnwood Mayor (FOX 13 Seattle)

“We've gotten over 50 people coming to city council asking us to cancel the contract. We've talked about it extensively.”

— Isabel Mata, Lynnwood City Council Member (FOX 13 Seattle)

What’s next

The Lynnwood City Council says the next step will be to cover up the Flock cameras with tarps and garbage bags to ensure they are not recording before they are physically removed.

The takeaway

This decision by the Lynnwood City Council reflects the growing public concern over the use of surveillance technology by local governments, especially around issues of privacy, data security, and the potential for government overreach. It highlights the difficult balance cities must strike between public safety and civil liberties when adopting new technologies.