MADISON, S.D. – Several South Dakota police departments, including Sioux Falls and Madison, are using Flock Safety automatic license plate readers for surveillance purposes with the goal of cutting back on crime.
But opposition to police using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) is growing. Concerns over mass surveillance, privacy rights, data security, and the potential for misuse and bias is the basis for pushback from individuals, lawmakers and organizations across the country. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) argue the technology creates a de facto surveillance state.
According to SD News Watch, in early 2025, the Sioux Falls City Council approved a $168,000 contract for the police department to purchase and implement software for 25 cameras. According to Flock and the Sioux Falls Police Department, those cameras are only used to detect license plates…