Pittsboro residents are pushing back on the presence
of Flock cameras in their community, citing privacy issues.
Residents took their concerns to the town
commission on Monday.
“One of my concerns is that the data that
we’re collecting here can be used by many different entities of which we don’t
really know or have control over,” one man said.
“Anytime I leave my apartment or go to church, my
vehicle is being recorded and monitored,” another man said. “That is an
egregious violation of my Fourth Amendment rights.”
In a “2024 Update” provided by the Pittsboro Police Department
to the town commission in March of 2025, the department’s presentation said the
flock camera system went live in January of 2024, with data being stored for 30
days.
According to that presentation, the police say they’ve solved cases thanks to the cameras, including 3 stolen
cars, a hit and run, 3 larcenies, and finding a person of interest in other
larcenies.
WRAL has covered the success and concerns around
Flock camera technology in our area for years.
At least 10 law enforcement agencies in our area
use the cameras, including Raleigh, Roxboro, Clayton, Garner, Knightdale, Hope
Mills and Creedmoor.
The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Vance County
Sheriff’s Office, and the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office also operate the
cameras.
Some of those agencies have shared success stories
of the license plate reading cameras, including finding missing people and
solving crimes.
Other agencies do not have the cameras, including the
Orange County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Durham, Siler City,
Carrboro and Fayetteville.
The Town of Hillsborough initially
entered into a contract with Flock in 2025, but elected officials changed their
minds, citing concerns about the data being shared.
“My concern isn’t necessarily with technology,
it’s the way this contract is set up,” said one town council member during the
October 2025 meeting. “It looks reassuring, but really it allows Flock to
override our judgment for theirs.”
The Pittsboro Police Department told WRAL they are
working on a statement about the cameras. We will update this story when we
receive it.
