The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has decided to let its contract with surveillance firm Flock expire, citing significant concerns over civil liberties and privacy. The decision comes amid a wave of similar withdrawals by major cities due to fears about data misuse.

According to Dean Gialamas, the LAPD’s chief information officer, the department will cease using Flock services until issues around data, privacy, security and sharing can be resolved through better contractual terms. The move highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and tech firms over the balance of surveillance and individual rights.

Flock, based in Atlanta, operates a network of at least 80,000 cameras across the US that monitor license plates for both police and federal agencies. Critics argue that such systems infringe on privacy, with documented cases of false positives leading to wrongful detainments and even shootings.

Privacy concerns have escalated so much that some communities have dismantled Flock cameras or covered them in trash bags. Even so, Flock has faced its own security troubles, including instances where cameras were publicly exposed, allowing anyone to watch live feeds. This raised alarms among lawmakers about potential misuse by hackers and spies.

The LAPD’s decision is part of a broader trend as cities reconsider their reliance on surveillance technology in light of mounting evidence of privacy violations and false positives.