Columbus paused Flock camera use but devices remain active

27 September 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

Columbus has paused its active use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras, according to reporting from the Columbus Dispatch. The pause represents a shift in the city's deployment of the surveillance technology, which has been installed at multiple locations. However, the devices themselves remain in place throughout Columbus, suggesting the infrastructure for camera operation persists even as the city has stepped back from utilizing them.

The specific reasons for the pause and the timeline for this decision are not detailed in the available information. [Verify: the date the pause began, any official statement from city officials, and whether the pause is temporary or indefinite.] Residents and transparency advocates can check Columbus city council meeting minutes and records requests to city departments for details on the pause decision, any public input received, contract terms regarding camera removal or deactivation, and the current status of any Flock Safety agreements.

Read the original reporting: The Columbus Dispatch.

Related record: Columbus, Ohio in the jurisdictions directory.