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Proton is hosting a free interactive map of Flock Safety surveillance devices across the United States. The map reports more than 214,000 devices in service, above the 120,000-plus cameras Flock said it operated this summer; the figures use different descriptions and have not been reconciled.

Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail and Proton VPN, is hosting a free interactive map of Flock Safety surveillance devices across the United States. The move preserves public access to a tool created by security researcher Joshua Michael after Flock sought its removal, and the map reports substantially more devices than the company’s publicly stated camera count.

The map, first published in September, catalogs Flock devices using information reported by the company, according to CNET. Proton says it has placed the tool on its Swiss servers, adding a layer of technical and legal protection after Flock submitted a trademark complaint and, Michael said, threatened further action. The map remains publicly available without requiring a subscription to Proton’s other services.

The figures displayed on the tool are more than 214,000 devices in service and more than 80,000 in planning stages. Flock said this summer that it operated more than 120,000 cameras nationwide. Those figures are not necessarily directly comparable: the map describes devices, while Flock’s statement refers to cameras, and the available information does not reconcile their scope or counting methods. A Flock representative did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.

Flock systems include automated license plate readers and AI surveillance cameras. They can capture license plates, vehicle details and human physical characteristics, as well as audio signals such as gunshots or shouting. The map distinguishes active and decommissioned devices, according to CNET’s account of its use. Camera deployments change over time, so displayed locations may not reflect current conditions indefinitely.

Public Access to Camera Locations

Making a searchable map available gives residents, journalists and local officials a way to examine the reported reach of Flock’s surveillance network in their communities. That can inform discussion about whether agencies should use the technology, how long they retain data and what limits should govern searches. The map itself does not answer those policy questions or establish how any particular agency uses the system.

Law enforcement agencies use camera data to track and search for suspects. Privacy advocates warn that broad collection can enable extensive tracking without adequate oversight. Michael has also argued that weaknesses in Flock’s data controls create cybersecurity and national-security risks; these are his assessments, not independently established findings in the information available here.

Proton’s hosting decision also matters because it makes the map less dependent on the original site that faced a removal demand. Hosting in Switzerland may provide additional legal safeguards, but it does not establish that the map is immune from legal challenges or that its underlying records are complete.

From September Map to Swiss Hosting

Joshua Michael first published the interactive map in September. Flock then filed a trademark complaint seeking its removal, according to the account provided to CNET. Michael told the outlet that Flock had “promised to take every measure possible to take my research offline.” Proton subsequently agreed to host the tool on its servers in Switzerland.

Proton says Swiss data-protection rules mean it is not required to comply with requests that lack support from a Swiss court order. That is the company’s description of its legal position; the available information does not detail how a particular US legal request would be handled or establish the outcome of any challenge.

The Flock map is a focused view of one company’s reported devices, rather than a complete inventory of surveillance technology. The Atlas of Surveillance, a separate project maintained by volunteers using public records and government data, tracks a wider range of tools adopted by US law enforcement, including license plate readers, cell-site simulators and body-worn cameras.

“My research on FlockSurveillance.org documents cybersecurity failures with national-security consequences.”

— Joshua Michael, map creator, speaking to CNET

Counts, Coverage and Legal Challenges

The gap between the map’s 214,000-plus devices and Flock’s statement of 120,000-plus cameras is not explained in the available information. The terms may cover different categories, and no matching date, methodology or independent audit is provided to determine whether the totals can be compared directly.

It is also unclear how frequently the map’s device records are refreshed, how complete they are across the country or how Proton verifies each entry. The map’s creator says the data comes from Flock’s own reporting, while Proton has said it will update the map if reliable new data becomes available. Locations can change as cameras are added, moved or decommissioned.

Flock’s response to Proton’s hosting arrangement was not available when CNET reported the development. The status and possible consequences of the trademark complaint, as well as any further legal action, remain unclear.

Updates Depend on Reliable Records

Proton says it plans to update the map when new and reliable data becomes available, but it has not provided a set update schedule. Readers should treat the display as a changing record rather than a real-time guarantee of which cameras are operating at a given location.

Further clarification from Flock could help explain the difference between its published camera count and the map’s device total. Any legal response to Proton’s hosting decision could also affect the tool’s availability. For now, the map remains accessible, and the completeness and current status of individual entries have not been independently established.

Source: CNET

Key Questions

What has Proton done?

Proton is hosting a free interactive map of Flock Safety devices across the United States. The map was created by security researcher Joshua Michael and remains publicly accessible.

How many Flock devices does the map show?

The map reports more than 214,000 devices in service and more than 80,000 in planning stages. Flock said this summer that it operated more than 120,000 cameras; the available information does not establish that the two totals use the same definitions or counting methods.

Why did Proton host the map in Switzerland?

Proton says Swiss data-protection rules provide added legal protection and that it is not required to comply with requests unsupported by a Swiss court order. This describes Proton’s position; the outcome of any future legal challenge is unknown.

Is the map guaranteed to show current camera locations?

No. Device locations and status can change, and the update schedule is not specified. Proton says it will update the map if new and reliable data becomes available.

What information can Flock systems collect?

Flock systems include license plate readers and AI cameras that can capture plate and vehicle details, physical characteristics and audio signals such as gunshots or shouting. The map shows reported device locations; it does not by itself document how a particular agency uses the collected data.

Source: CNET