Flock Seeks Removal Of Researcher’s Nationwide Camera Map
A cybersecurity researcher published a map showing more than 170,000 Flock cameras and roughly 130,000 related devices, based on the company’s location data. The map was cited during a Senate subcommittee hearing on Flock. A firm claiming to act for Flock reportedly filed a trademark complaint against the researcher’s site.
Joshua Michael, a cybersecurity researcher, released a map Wednesday locating what he describes as 300,000 Flock surveillance devices. It draws on coordinates from Flock’s own database and identifies over 170,000 cameras plus more than 130,000 related devices. The company had publicly said this summer it ran over 120,000 cameras nationwide.
Michael’s findings were referenced during a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday on crime and counterterrorism. The next day, he learned that Doppel, an AI-focused social engineering defense firm, had filed a trademark complaint about his site while saying it acted for Flock.
The dispute may affect researchers, local communities, and agencies using camera networks. If mapping tools are removed, public oversight of surveillance placement could become harder, while residents may have less ability to see where such devices operate. At the same time, companies may argue trademark or platform rules to limit independent scrutiny. The episode could shape how location data, transparency, and private security infrastructure are debated in federal policy.