{"slug": "my-guaranteed-steps-to-tell-if-a-new-device-is-a-flock-camera", "title": "My Guaranteed Steps to Tell if a New Device Is a Flock Camera", "summary": "Flock Safety's AI-powered license plate recognition cameras have a distinctive oval, hooded shape with a circular lens and visible solar panel arrays, according to a CNET guide by a reporter who has covered the surveillance technology. The guide aims to help residents distinguish Flock cameras from traffic enforcement cameras or competitor products like Obvio, noting that Flock models may vary with additional features such as AI person detection and sound detection.", "body_md": "As I’ve covered [Flock Safety’s AI camera and license plate tracking technology](https://www.cnet.com/home/security/when-flock-comes-to-town-why-cities-are-axing-the-controversial-surveillance-technology/), including cities [choosing to cancel their surveillance contracts](https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/los-angeles-lapd-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-privacy/) while [others adopt even more](https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/we-spotted-so-many-workarounds-for-flocks-new-rules-on-police-camera-surveillance/), I’ve come across a common problem. Many people don’t actually know what a Flock camera looks like.\n\nThat’s one reason I’m not the biggest fan of crowdsourced Flock-spotting apps [like DeFlock](https://deflock.org/), which make it a bit too easy to give conflicting information about what people *think* is a Flock [camera](https://www.cnet.com/best-security-cameras/). This led to so much confusion in my own city that the city council [had to put out a bulletin](https://ktvz.com/news/2026/08/20/camera-confusion-city-of-bend-reminds-residents-flock-cameras-are-not-traffic-enforcement-cameras-pilot-program-expired/) explaining that local government no longer uses Flock cameras, and what people are seeing probably aren’t Flock cams in the first place.\n\nSo, how do you know if you’re seeing a mounted Flock camera, or a traditional traffic cam, or a [competitor camera](https://www.cnet.com/home/security/8-ring-security-settings-to-turn-off-if-youre-worried-about-privacy/), or just a [new cam from a friendly neighbor](https://www.cnet.com/best-security-cameras/)? I’m rounding up the exact ways you can tell.\n\n## Look for the telltale Flock camera shape\n\nFlock Safety’s brand has a very clear [camera shape](https://www.cnet.com/home/security/8-security-camera-blind-spots-every-burglar-is-counting-on-you-to-have/), so with a closer look, it’s typically easy to tell if it’s a Flock automatic license plate reader camera or something else.\n\nWatch for the classic oval, hooded shape of the camera with a circular lens, a near-universal mark of Flock camera.\n\nNotice this competitor brand Obvio has a distinctly different design than Flock, and may not offer the same surveillance services.\n\nKeep in mind, Flock offers a variety of additional camera features, including AI person detection and sound detection, like listening for gunshots, so not every model looks exactly the same. But this is still one of the first and simplest ways to detect a Flock brand camera. If you get very close, you can also small, shiny, stem-like Flock logo on the front of the cameras.\n\nI have seen reports of other ALPR cameras [hidden inside objects like fake plants](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/fake-cactus-real-cameras-inside-162529050.html), but this doesn’t appear to be Flock’s typical approach and is very rare so far.\n\n###\n[Best DIY Home Security Systems of 2026: Install Them Yourself](https://www.cnet.com/home/security/best-diy-home-security-systems/)\n\nDodge installation fees and take security into your own hands with these super smart security kits.\n\n## Look for Flock’s visible solar panel arrays\n\nNext, look for Flock’s large, dark-colored solar panels, which are typically angled above the camera or close by on the same mount. Many ALPR cameras use solar panels so they can be installed nearly anywhere, but Flock’s have a unique design that’s more noticeable the longer you look at the cameras.\n\nIf you see what you think is a surveillance device *without* a solar panel, it probably isn’t one, or at least not one associated with Flock and its camera competitors like Axon or Obvio.\n\nFor example, red-light or speed cameras may be wired into traffic-light mounts, but they are used for traffic enforcement and don’t carry the same surveillance baggage as general ALPR cameras. While they automate certain aspects of traffic enforcement and take pictures of license plates, they don’t typically have the AI recognition, broad police search capabilities, or ways to recognize individual vehicles and people like Flock can (although they can still make communities uncomfortable).\n\nRemember, Flock and ALPR solar panels are always larger and more public than the panels people use for their [home security cameras](https://www.cnet.com/home/security/best-solar-powered-home-security-camera/). Fortunately, there are other ways to make sure.\n\n## Check what surveillance equipment local law enforcement has bought\n\nI recommend confirming your community is using Flock cameras even if you think you’ve spotted one. One of the best ways is with [the Atlas of Surveillance website](https://www.atlasofsurveillance.org/), which [uses dedicated research](https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/this-searchable-tool-is-helping-track-flock-surveillance-cameras-in-your-city/) to collect the different surveillance technologies that cities, police and sheriff departments have bought and are using.\n\nThe Atlas of Surveillance tries to stay as current as possible, and you can search by town or county in just a few seconds. It links to reports or public records to confirm use if possible. I’ve used it frequently to trace Flock activity in certain areas, not only with cameras but with [growing numbers of surveillance drones, too](https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/where-vandals-cant-reach-flock-safetys-future-is-full-of-spying-drones/). It works with multiple types of devices and platforms that law enforcement uses, making it one of the most dependable ways to corroborate that your local government recently started using Flock cameras.\n\nWhen I talked to senior research Beryl Lipton from the Electronic Frontier Foundation about using the website, she said, “People should start by searching for their town and county to see what technology is in play close to home. While folks may expect some larger cities to use some of these devices, I think people will be surprised to see how common they’ve become in mid-sized and rural areas too.”\n\nLipton also recommended using a similar tool, [the Street-Level Surveillance hub](https://sls.eff.org/), which is more focused on the complex ways today’s agencies use surveillance technology. With both tools together, you should have a good idea what your community is facing.\n\n## Check who owns the property and what contracts they may have\n\nFlock doesn’t just contract with cities or police departments. That means that while a city government may have canceled Flock Safety cameras, local businesses can use them on their private property, which can cause a lot of confusion among worried people.\n\nIf it doesn’t appear your local government is using Flock cameras, try to find out who owns the property with a camera on it, and if they contract with Flock. Home Depot and Lowe’s, for example, [are very open about using ALPR cameras](https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/), including Flock’s, [in their parking lots](https://cc.cnet.com/v1/otc/04Yxjj1rHOmYAxbnVDhvKNn?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcorporate.homedepot.com%2Fpage%2Fimmigration-activity-our-parking-lots), and sometimes share that data with police.\n\nLocal businesses and neighborhood entities like HOAs can also contract with Flock, but you can often ask them directly if they have AI surveillance cameras and why.\n\n## Ask your city council\n\nGoing to your city council, especially in person, can also be helpful ([even Darth Vader thinks so](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3qvkeZe-PY)). You can find out about present or future connections with Flock and make your opinion heard. You may also discover that, as I’ve seen before, cities have canceled their Flock contracts and no longer use the cameras, but they still stay up because no one is sure how to legally remove them.\n\nI’ve also seen city councils unsure what Flock cameras are or how police use them, essentially signing off on police and sheriff budgets without knowing what they’re paying for, which is a sign that auditing and accountability practices are lacking. Or, I’ve noticed some cities announce new camera or surveillance programs but carefully avoid using the word “Flock” even though they are contracting with Flock Safety.\n\nAsking direct questions to public servants can help handle issues like these. Look for council meetings where the public is welcome, and try writing or calling your city council to ask about their plans for Flock, if any.\n\n## File a public records request\n\nCheck if your city or state supports public records requests. You may be able to use a government website to [formally request access to information](https://deflock.org/foia) about ALPR cameras, installations and contract documents.\n\nDepending on the public records portal, you may have to be very specific about the kind of information you want, and which government body has it — the police department vs. the city, for example. My other steps are a good start to the research you need if you want to access public records like this.\n\nWhile not every camera is from Flock, knowing which are — and which have ALPR or person detection capabilities — is a key step in avoiding confusion and protecting your privacy.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/my-guaranteed-steps-to-tell-if-a-new-device-is-a-flock-camera", "canonical_source": "https://www.cnet.com/home/security/my-guaranteed-steps-to-tell-if-a-new-device-is-a-flock-camera/", "published_at": "2026-08-24 10:00:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-24 10:43:13.041731+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "computer-vision", "ai-products"], "entities": ["Flock Safety", "CNET", "Obvio", "Axon", "DeFlock"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/my-guaranteed-steps-to-tell-if-a-new-device-is-a-flock-camera", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/my-guaranteed-steps-to-tell-if-a-new-device-is-a-flock-camera.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/my-guaranteed-steps-to-tell-if-a-new-device-is-a-flock-camera.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/my-guaranteed-steps-to-tell-if-a-new-device-is-a-flock-camera.jsonld"}}