Proton Map Tracks 200,000 Flock License-Plate Cameras Worldwide
Proton published a map of over 200,000 Flock license-plate cameras, using leaked location data.
Zooming out to show the globe returns 214,073 cameras in active use, including 213,712 in the United States and Canada, according to TechRadar. Users can enter a ZIP code to find nearby cameras, filter by whether devices are in service, planned, decommissioned or of unknown status, and narrow results by U.S. state and by capabilities such as license-plate reading or freeform search. Clicking a result shows exact latitude and longitude and the date the device was entered into the dataset.
Flock has tried to have Michael's research website taken down, TechRadar reported, but both his site and Proton's map remained available as of publication. Michael built the dataset from a snapshot compiled in December 2025. He says on his website that because the snapshot is part of a research paper, devices will not be added to or removed from it, so cameras installed or decommissioned after December 2025 do not appear on either map.
Proton said the map is meant to help people understand surveillance in their communities. “You have a right to know who’s recording you when you leave home, especially when a private company controls the data and it’s unclear how law enforcement uses that information,” the company said, according to TechRadar. It urged users to make informed decisions about movement in their area and to consider contacting municipal leaders.
The release comes amid scrutiny of Flock's ALPR cameras. TechRadar reported that the systems have recently been discussed in connection with tracking innocent people and with allegations that they encourage stalking and police overreach.
Proton's map is not the only project mapping ALPR devices. The DeFlock campaign uses crowdsourced data and includes cameras from Flock as well as other companies such as Genetec and Motorola. DeFlock has more data for Canada than Michael's map, but it lists 144,457 devices in the United States and 950 in Canada, far fewer than Proton's map, according to TechRadar.
The two projects together show the scale of Flock's camera network, while each has limits. Proton's map reflects a fixed December 2025 snapshot, and DeFlock depends on crowdsourced reports. The counts also cover different sets of devices: Proton's map is limited to Flock equipment, while DeFlock includes other ALPR vendors.