Florida bans Flock cameras days after a sheriff's deputy resigns for misusing AI cameras to track ex-girlfriend

Florida bans Flock cameras that can read license plates amid a major row over privacy. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that he is removing Flock cameras from state roadways. The order said all Flock cameras were to be removed from what he calls the “state highway system” within the next 30 days, which would include interstates like I-10 and I-75. That order led to several sheriff’s departments like in Franklin, Liberty and Putnam Counties to announce they’re ending their own license plate reader programs. After 30 days, if there are Flock cameras still found on some roads, Florida's Department of Transportation will take them down. The memo also said that Flock cameras will not get permits in Florida in the future as well.Citing the cases of cops stalking their ex-girlfriends using the surveillance system, Ron DeSantis said his administration is pro-law enforcement. “But, you also have to say, okay, how could this be misused? And how could a private company misuse the data, but also law enforcement? We know there was an officer in Florida who was using the LPR data to track like an ex-girlfriend or something like that,” DeSantis said.Deputy of the Year 2025 resigns o...