Missouri governor orders guardrails on Flock cameras and ALPRs
Recorded: Sept. 17, 2026, 8 p.m.
| Original | Summarized |
Flock cameras to get guardrails in Missouri | STLPR Skip to main content Search Query News Stories Arts Culture & History Economy & Business Education Government, Politics & Issues Health, Science & Environment Law & Order Metro East Coverage Race, Identity & Faith Rolla-Region Coverage Investigations Midwest Newsroom St. Louis Regional Newscasts STL Welcome Kit Arts Culture & History Economy & Business Education Government, Politics & Issues Health, Science & Environment Law & Order Metro East Coverage Race, Identity & Faith Rolla-Region Coverage Investigations Midwest Newsroom St. Louis Regional Newscasts STL Welcome Kit Shows Programs A-Z Schedules The Gateway Politically Speaking St. Louis on the Air Meet Me The Next Set: From Jazz St. Louis St. Louis Symphony Orchestra We Live Here Programs A-Z Schedules The Gateway Politically Speaking St. Louis on the Air Meet Me The Next Set: From Jazz St. Louis St. Louis Symphony Orchestra We Live Here Events Station Events Community Calendar Arianna String Quartet Hear the Future MetroQuest Mini J School Photojournalist Prize STL Welcome Party Theatre Showcase Station Events Community Calendar Arianna String Quartet Hear the Future MetroQuest Mini J School Photojournalist Prize STL Welcome Party Theatre Showcase Ways to Connect Listening Options & Help Contact Us Digital Accessibility Newsletters Generation Listen Volunteer with STLPR Listening Options & Help Contact Us Digital Accessibility Newsletters Generation Listen Volunteer with STLPR Ways to Give Donate Membership Hub Cornerstone Society Corporate Sponsorship Planned Giving Vehicle Donation Donate Membership Hub Cornerstone Society Corporate Sponsorship Planned Giving Vehicle Donation About STLPR About Us Careers Staff Boards Community Representation Editorial Independence Statement Impact Report Public Documents & Policies Station Updates & Press 50 Year Timeline About Us Careers Staff Boards Community Representation Editorial Independence Statement Impact Report Public Documents & Policies Station Updates & Press 50 Year Timeline © 2026 St. Louis Public Radio Menu Show Search Search Query Donate Play Live Radio Next Up: 0:00 0:00 0:00 Available On Air Stations On Air Now Playing St. Louis Public Radio KWMU‑1 On Air Now Playing Jazz KWMU‑2 On Air Now Playing Classical KWMU‑3 On Air Now Playing Local Newscast All Streams News Stories Arts Culture & History Economy & Business Education Government, Politics & Issues Health, Science & Environment Law & Order Metro East Coverage Race, Identity & Faith Rolla-Region Coverage Investigations Midwest Newsroom St. Louis Regional Newscasts STL Welcome Kit Arts Culture & History Economy & Business Education Government, Politics & Issues Health, Science & Environment Law & Order Metro East Coverage Race, Identity & Faith Rolla-Region Coverage Investigations Midwest Newsroom St. Louis Regional Newscasts STL Welcome Kit Shows Programs A-Z Schedules The Gateway Politically Speaking St. Louis on the Air Meet Me The Next Set: From Jazz St. Louis St. Louis Symphony Orchestra We Live Here Programs A-Z Schedules The Gateway Politically Speaking St. Louis on the Air Meet Me The Next Set: From Jazz St. Louis St. Louis Symphony Orchestra We Live Here Events Station Events Community Calendar Arianna String Quartet Hear the Future MetroQuest Mini J School Photojournalist Prize STL Welcome Party Theatre Showcase Station Events Community Calendar Arianna String Quartet Hear the Future MetroQuest Mini J School Photojournalist Prize STL Welcome Party Theatre Showcase Ways to Connect Listening Options & Help Contact Us Digital Accessibility Newsletters Generation Listen Volunteer with STLPR Listening Options & Help Contact Us Digital Accessibility Newsletters Generation Listen Volunteer with STLPR Ways to Give Donate Membership Hub Cornerstone Society Corporate Sponsorship Planned Giving Vehicle Donation Donate Membership Hub Cornerstone Society Corporate Sponsorship Planned Giving Vehicle Donation About STLPR About Us Careers Staff Boards Community Representation Editorial Independence Statement Impact Report Public Documents & Policies Station Updates & Press 50 Year Timeline About Us Careers Staff Boards Community Representation Editorial Independence Statement Impact Report Public Documents & Policies Station Updates & Press 50 Year Timeline News Briefs Flock cameras to get guardrails in Missouri St. Louis Public Radio | Published September 16, 2026 at 12:04 PM CDT Brian Munoz Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has signed an executive order to establish safeguards around automated license plate readers, like Flock cameras.Kehoe said in a statement that the order is intended to protect residents’ constitutional rights and to prevent people from misusing the license plate readers, including data obtained by Flock Safety.“The unchecked collection and indefinite storage of location data belonging to law-abiding citizens raises substantial, valid constitutional and privacy concerns,” Kehoe wrote. “The government should not be building a permanent record of where law-abiding Missourians go, who they visit, or how they live their daily lives.”The order directs the Missouri Department of Public Safety to create safeguards for state agencies and state-funded law enforcement departments using the automatic license plate readers.Kehoe said the misuse of these cameras will trigger immediate criminal referral, disciplinary proceedings and a report to the department for discipline or officer license revocation.The order:Requires most license plate and vehicle data to be permanently deleted within 30 days.Prohibits vendors from selling, sharing or commercializing Missouri-generated data.Restricts automated license plate reader technology to only legitimate criminal justice and lifesaving purposes.Establishes accountability measures to penalize misuse and prevent it.Prohibits combining artificial intelligence facial recognition technology with automated license plate readers.Kehoe encouraged local agencies to voluntarily commit to those practices when possible under existing contracts and laws. He said the framework will be a stopgap until state lawmakers take action. He called this executive order a “first step” in protecting Missourians from people abusing the data while also understanding the benefits they provide law enforcement.Public Safety Director Mark James said that the cameras have been helpful for officers and that there need to be guardrails.“Our department looks forward to collaborating with state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the members of the Missouri General Assembly, to put this executive order into action,” he wrote in a statement.Flock Safety cameras have garnered widespread attention and criticism in recent months. The company has more than 120,000 cameras across the country that have been used by police departments. Law enforcement officials have said it’s led them to solve crimes, while privacy advocates have argued that the cameras lead to significant privacy concerns over who has access to the data as well as how the cameras have collected license plate information from people who haven’t been charged with a crime. Immigration rights advocates have also criticized the cameras.St. Charles County Police banned Flock cameras last month after the department said a former civilian employee abused system data. A Brentwood police officer was accused of stalking his ex-wife; St. Louis County police determined the officer violated policy but didn’t break any laws. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department has announced it will stop using Flock cameras. Tags News Briefs Chad Davis See stories by Chad Davis Latest Stories News Briefs Developer behind controversial data center near Armory sues St. Louis Government, Politics & Issues Missouri Republicans make last-ditch legal effort to salvage Trump-backed congressional map Health, Science & Environment First measles case in 20 years confirmed in St. Louis County Government, Politics & Issues Yes, you are hearing more train horns in St. Louis lately — here's why Related Content Flock cameras escalate the battle between privacy and safety in St. Louis Listen • 49:35 De Soto police investigate damage to Flock camera Flock cameras are bagged up after employee abused system, St. Charles County Police say Amid intense backlash, people are vandalizing Flock surveillance cameras Stay Connected youtube bluesky © 2026 St. Louis Public Radio About Us Careers Contact Us Digital Accessibility Donate Newsletters Privacy Policy Public File Volunteer with STLPR |
Automated license plate readers, commonly known as Flock cameras, have generated significant controversy among residents in the St. Louis area following their deployment in public spaces. In response to this public backlash, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe issued an executive order aimed at establishing safeguards around these technologies to protect residents' constitutional rights and prevent the misapplication of the data collected by systems like Flock Safety. Kehoe articulated that the unchecked collection and indefinite storage of location data pertaining to law-abiding citizens raise substantial constitutional and privacy concerns, asserting that the government should refrain from creating permanent records detailing the movements, visits, or daily lives of Missourians. The executive order directs the Missouri Department of Public Safety to implement specific protective measures for state agencies and state-funded law enforcement departments utilizing automatic license plate readers. These safeguards include mandates for the permanent deletion of most license plate and vehicle data within thirty days, a prohibition on vendors from selling, sharing, or commercializing any data generated in Missouri, and restrictions on using the technology solely for legitimate criminal justice and lifesaving purposes. Furthermore, the order establishes accountability mechanisms to penalize any misuse and to prevent such abuses. A critical component of the order is the prohibition of combining artificial intelligence facial recognition technology with automated license plate readers. Kehoe encouraged local agencies to voluntarily adopt these practices under existing laws, signaling that this framework serves as a temporary measure pending further legislative action by state lawmakers. Law enforcement officials maintain that these cameras have proven helpful in crime solving, underscoring the need for "guardrails" alongside their use. However, the debate involves a conflict between public safety benefits and privacy rights. While law enforcement views the technology as beneficial, privacy advocates and immigration rights advocates have strongly criticized the cameras concerning data access and the collection of information from individuals who have not been charged with a crime. Incidents have highlighted the tension, such as the St. Charles County Police department banning Flock cameras after a former civilian employee reportedly abused system data, and other instances involving police officers and data scrutiny. These events illustrate the complex dynamic where the utility of surveillance technology confronts fundamental privacy expectations and the necessity for robust regulatory oversight concerning data privacy and governmental surveillance practices. |