Block says he hates Flock cameras and wishes they were not in use.

Ken Block2026 independent candidate for governor of Rhode Island

Block said he hates Flock cameras, wishes they were not in use and warned that the databases can be hacked.

“These databases can be hacked. I hate Flock cameras, I wish that we didn’t have them.”

Reporting

Open source (opens in a new tab)Gubernatorial forum: Updates from the stage at Roger Williams University"On Flock cameras" entry, posted September 30, 2026 at 6:26 p.m. EDT
A close view of a green Flock Safety automated license-plate reader mounted beside a street.
Credit: Bruxton

Where this statement fits

Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?

Networked automated license-plate readers record passing vehicles and let agencies search or share travel records across locations. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to prohibit these networks, keep them with legal limits, or defend their use for investigations. This tracker records attributable positions on that choice, including proposals that would affect only public funding or data access.

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Source and context

Reporting

Gubernatorial forum: Updates from the stage at Roger Williams University (opens in a new tab)"On Flock cameras" entry, posted September 30, 2026 at 6:26 p.m. EDT

About this source

Ocean State Media's live blog of the September 30 gubernatorial forum at Roger Williams University School of Law. Moderator Ian Donnis asked the candidates about safeguards for automated license plate readers. The blog says responses were edited for length and clarity.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

At a September 30 gubernatorial forum at Roger Williams University School of Law, moderator Ian Donnis asked what guardrails the candidates would put in place to protect Rhode Islanders' privacy and prevent misuse of automated license plate readers.

After the quotation

Block's answer also cited his technology background and government intrusion into private life. Ocean State Media's live blog notes that responses were edited for length and clarity.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

The label describes this statement's response within the context above.

Why this label?

Relative to networked ALPR surveillance, Block condemns the cameras. He names no remedy in this answer, so the tracker records it as criticism without a remedy.

Recorded on
Published here
People and groups discussed
Flock Safety

More from this case

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Gluba says Flock and other license plate cameras violate the Fourth Amendment and should be removed

Nicholas Gluba

“They are a complete violation of community privacy and safety, they are in direct violation of the fourth amendment to the US constitution and should by law be removed immediately. They have been abused throughout the country by various LEOs and citizens alike as they have little to no security in their software. Every other day we see a new article about someone using a LPR camera system to spy on and track an ex girlfriend or boyfriend, or we see that someone has again used them to track children. They must be removed!”
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Brandenburg opposes Flock-style camera networks in Michigan

Donna Brandenburg

“I, Donna Brandenburg, oppose Flock and all 3rd party - Flock-style license plate camera networks in Michigan. Tracking the movements of law-abiding citizens without a warrant is an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 11 of the Michigan Constitution, which expressly protects 'electronic data and electronic communications.' As governor, I would end state participation in these surveillance networks, require a warrant based on probable cause before any data is collected or accessed, and order existing data on innocent drivers destroyed.”
Read statement

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Cite this record

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The Dispute Index
Title
Block says he hates Flock cameras and wishes they were not in use.
First published
Last updated
Permalink
https://disputeindex.com/events/5623-block-said-he-hates-flock-cameras-wishes-they

Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.

The Dispute Index. "Block says he hates Flock cameras and wishes they were not in use.". First published: 2026-10-12. Last updated: 2026-10-12. https://disputeindex.com/events/5623-block-said-he-hates-flock-cameras-wishes-they