The University of California (UC) Board of Regents is facing legal action over public records of surveillance company Flock Safety. Filed Friday, Aug. 28, 2026 in the Superior Court of Alameda County, the suit alleges that UC Berkeley failed to disclose public records regarding Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader system (ALPR).
The lawsuit alleged that UC Berkeley failed to respond adequately to a Feb. 17 California Public Records request seeking information about any sharing of ALPR data by UC Berkeley. The request sought information about UC Berkeley’s ALPR data sharing settings and audit logs indicating searches of the ALPR system by the UC police department (UCPD) and other agencies. It also requested a list of specific agencies that had shared or received ALPR data.
Petitioner Daniel Negrete-Gonzalez, director of The Ellis Collective, a student-led research organization focused on UC surveillance systems, revealed that UCPDs throughout California campuses shared data collected by ALPRs with hundreds of agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Under California Senate Bill 34, it is illegal for public agencies to share ALPR data with out-of-state federal law enforcement agencies.
The Ellis Collective’s findings raised concerns over UC Berkeley’s contract with Flock Safety and prompted opposition to Flock Safety’s presence in Berkeley. The findings have prompted protests and petitions calling for restrictions on, or an end to, use of Flock on campus. UC Berkeley students have been calling for the campus to end its contract with Flock, or “DeFlock.” Debate over the safety of using Flock had already arisen when Berkeley was deciding whether to renew its contract, with community members speaking on possible danger to immigrant communities and protesters.
UC police officials and campus spokesperson Dan Mogulof have defended the technology’s usefulness and efficiency in police investigations, including efforts to identify suspects and make arrests. According to Mogulof, UC Berkeley does not allow sharing of ALPR data with federal agencies, including immigration enforcement.
As controversy about Flock grows, questions arise over how exactly the line between private life and public safety should be bridged. Future actions may determine whether Flock remains a steadfast presence in Berkeley, or the contract is terminated, forcing a new safety system to be developed.