We Can End Mass Surveillance
Welcome to DeFlock Nova. We are a community of Northern Virginia residents fighting back against the unchecked expansion of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) like Flock and Axon. Mass surveillance shouldn't be the price we pay for public safety.It’s time to protect our privacy, take back control, and get these systems defunded.
New! Check out our field guide to spotting the different cameras & sensors in Arlington County >>
Here's Where You're Being Tracked
Discover exactly where surveillance cameras are hidden in your neighborhood using these interactive maps.
Demand Your Privacy Back
Ready to take a stand? Use our quick email templates to contact your local county board or city officials and demand they cut ties with these tracking networks.
Stay Informed
Read the latest news, local announcements, and stories of other communities successfully fighting back against mass surveillance.
Mapping the Cameras
Mass surveillance relies on flying under the radar. Because private companies and local agencies rarely disclose where these cameras are placed, citizens have stepped up to track them ourselves.Community-led initiatives are currently mapping the exact locations of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) across Northern Virginia and beyond. By knowing where these cameras are, we can better understand the sheer scale of how everyday citizens are being monitored.Explore the interactive maps below to see where you are being tracked, and learn how you can contribute to the project by reporting new cameras in your area.
Nationwide Maps
DeFlock Nova's Inventory
While the sites above are an excellent starting point, crowdsourcing means they aren't always accurate.At DeFlock Nova, we've begun mapping out the confirmed Flock, Axon, and other mass surveillance cameras. Our first inventory below is for Arlington County, where our eagle-eyed team found additional Flock cameras not disclosed yet.Want to help contribute? Contact [email protected]
Find our detailed spreadsheet below
Tell Northern Virginia to Defund Mass Surveillance
Below, you will find phone numbers and email addresses for every County Board in Northern Virginia. We have also provided pre-written email templates that you can easily copy, paste, and send to your representatives right now to demand an immediate moratorium on these cameras.It’s time to remind our elected officials that we have Fourth Amendment rights.
Alexandria City Council
Phone:
703.746.4500Email: [email protected]
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Phone:
703.324.3151Email: [email protected]
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
Phone:
703.777.0204Email:
[email protected]
Arlington County Board
Phone:
703.228.3130Email: [email protected]
Falls Church City Council
Phone:
703.248.5014Email: [email protected]
Prince William County Board of County Supervisors
Phone:
703.792.4640Email:
[email protected]
Email Templates
Email 1
Dear County Board,I am a resident of Arlington writing to voice my strong opposition to the county’s use of Flock Safety and Axon/Axios surveillance networks. While presented as public safety measures, these systems build a massive, privately controlled, nationwide tracking database without judicial oversight or public consent.Flock ALPR cameras do not just log suspects; they log the color, make, model, and movement patterns of everyday law-abiding citizens. This constitutes an alarming circumvention of our Fourth Amendment rights against warrantless search and seizure. Multiple jurisdictions have already cut ties with Flock over these precise public trust issues.I urge the County Board to follow their example, deny any contract renewals or expansions, and order the immediate deactivation and removal of these cameras.
Email 2
Dear County Board:As a local resident and voter, I am deeply troubled by the lack of local control over data captured by the county's Flock Safety and Axon camera systems.By default, these technologies aggregate data into a national network where information can be swept up by out-of-state law enforcement and federal agencies like ICE without a warrant. Local agencies frequently discover that "statewide sharing" has been enabled without explicit legislative approval or oversight. This undermines the relationship between residents and local government.Public safety must not come at the cost of public trust. Please establish an immediate moratorium on these platforms and enact ordinances banning automated license plate tracking in our residential zones.
Email 3
Dear County Board Member:I am a resident of and voter in Arlington.I am writing to urge you to remove and to prohibit the installation or expansion of automated license plate reader systems, including Flock Safety, in our community.These systems are often presented as simple crime-fighting tools, but they create a form of mass surveillance that records the movements of ordinary people who are not suspected of any crime. That raises serious concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and the long-term misuse of sensitive location data.Even when these systems are marketed as narrowly targeted, the reality is that they can enable broad tracking, data retention, inter-agency sharing, and mission creep over time. A system installed for one purpose today can easily be expanded tomorrow. Once the infrastructure is in place, the temptation to widen its use becomes very difficult to control.
The Latest in the Fight for Privacy
Check back here for the latest updates on the fight for privacy in Northern Virginia. We regularly post relevant news articles, legislative updates, and local announcements so you can stay informed on how surveillance tech is creeping into our neighborhoods -- and how we're fighting to stop it.
FEATURED ARTICLE
