Three Palm Bay city council members are reconsidering the city's use of Flock license plate readers after growing public and political concerns over privacy and misuse. The city's 51 cameras, deployed since 2021 to aid law enforcement, now face scrutiny following national reports of ALPR system abuses. Council members spoke to FOX 35 Orlando this week about shifting opinions on the technology. The city was among the first in Brevard County to adopt Flock's automated license plate readers (ALPR), which capture images of every vehicle passing through 51 strategically placed cameras. The system was initially praised for helping track stolen vehicles and criminal activity. But recent incidents across the U.S. have raised alarms. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly questioned the expansion of ALPR networks, citing risks of data breaches and overreach. Council member Maria Lopez said she received over 100 emails from residents last month expressing fears about surveillance. “People are worried about who has access to this data,” she said. “We need transparency.” Similar concerns were voiced by Council members Carlos Mendez and Tammy Nguyen, who cited reports of law enforcement officers in other states using ALPR databases to stalk ex-partners. The city completed a review of the Flock system last year, but the findings were not made public. Critics argue the lack of oversight creates a loophole for misuse. A 2023 study by the ACLU found that ALPR data is often stored for years, increasing the risk of unauthorized access. Palm Bay police chief Mark Thompson declined to comment on the council's discussions but confirmed the department is reviewing internal protocols. The city has not yet announced plans to remove or modify the cameras. With national debates intensifying and local pushback rising, the future of the system remains uncertain.