The city that fought Flock
Bùi Đăng Minh•Monday, October 26, 2026•3 min read
The city of Huntington, West Virginia, is facing a fierce debate after its city council approved a contract for Flock automated license plate readers. The decision has sparked intense pushback from residents and privacy advocates alike.
- Mayor Patrick Farrell championed the Flock surveillance network as a crucial tool for fighting crime and tracking suspects.
- The Huntington city council ultimately approved the resolutions to contract with Flock by a vote of 6-4.
- Local activists launched a petition drive to gather thousands of signatures and force a public referendum on the contract.
- State lawmakers in West Virginia interrogated Flock representatives over data security concerns and misleading statements.
- Despite the council later passing an ordinance detailing usage safeguards, community opposition and the threat of a ballot measure persist.
