For years, **Flock Safety**, a leading provider of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, publicly emphasized its devices were produced in the United States. However, recent scrutiny by WIRED indicates a significant shift, with the company's marketing materials no longer specifying manufacturing locations and a US-based manufacturer quietly removing **Flock** from its customer list. This lack of transparency comes amidst a growing nationwide protest movement against **Flock**'s surveillance technology. Dozens of local governments have halted their use of **Flock** cameras, and Congress is considering legislation to limit their deployment, citing concerns over privacy abuses, such as officers tracking ex-partners or sharing data with immigration authorities. While the public debate has largely centered on data use and privacy, the origins of **Flock**'s hardware have received less attention. However, where these devices are produced could carry significant implications for US national security. ## A Global Web of Components **Flock Safety** CEO **Garrett Langley** has previously stated the company's value lies in the 'aggregation and the packaging' of non-custom, globally sourced parts into a 'nice waterproof, consumer-friendly device.' Import records from **ImportGenius** indicate an increasing reliance on **Primax Electronics** in Thailand for 'commodity' cameras, radar systems, and other components. **Primax**, headquartered in Taiwan, operates manufacturing facilities across Asia, including China and Thailand. **Lynn Hughes**, an analyst at **ImportGenius**, notes that while these appear to be components, **Primax** also manufactures complete security camera solutions, suggesting a deeper involvement than simple component supply. **Flock** spokesperson **Paris Lewbel** asserted that 'All products that **Flock** builds are National Defense Authorization Act compliant,' referring to US law restricting government contractors from using parts from certain Chinese tech companies. ## From Android Hacks to Contract Manufacturers Early **Flock** prototypes were reportedly built from Android phone cameras bought on **Alibaba**, demonstrating a focus on cost-effective component integration. As the company grew, assembly shifted from an informal setup in **Langley**'s home to a corporate office, and later to a **WeWork**-style facility in Atlanta. Former employees described a 'janky' system where cameras were stored in self-storage units, raising concerns about potential tampering. Between 2019 and 2021, **Flock**'s marketing materials consistently highlighted US manufacturing and assembly in Atlanta, GA. However, the company later transitioned final assembly to contract facilities in North Carolina and Wisconsin operated by **East West Manufacturing** and **Plexus**. This move was reportedly driven by a desire to mitigate security concerns, particularly regarding potential Chinese surveillance, and to facilitate rapid product customization. By 2024, **Flock**'s manufacturing partners were capable of producing 500 cameras daily, a significant increase. Yet, parts continued to originate largely from Asia. In a notable development in May, **East West Manufacturing** removed references to **Flock** from its website amidst growing public opposition to the surveillance firm. Currently, the exact location of **Flock**'s camera assembly remains undisclosed in recent marketing materials. While an **OSHA** citation points to an incident at a **Flock** 'audio and video equipment manufacturing' site in Houston, Texas, the precise nature of operations there is unconfirmed. ## Oversight and Accountability **Cris van Pelt**, creator of the anti-Flock advocacy project **Have I Been Flocked**, emphasizes that the lack of transparency about manufacturing origins highlights a broader issue: a dearth of oversight. 'If any part of the supply chain is compromised, we would never know,' van Pelt states, underscoring a significant security vulnerability. **Matthew Guariglia**, a senior policy analyst at the **Electronic Frontier Foundation**, echoes this sentiment, asserting that 'Domestic manufacturing is no substitute for accountability over how these systems are built, sold, and used.' He argues that the location of assembly does not inherently make mass surveillance technology safer or more acceptable. Competitors like **Motorola Solutions** have disclosed their license plate cameras are assembled in Richardson, Texas, while **Axon** remains less transparent about its **Outpost** cameras, though it assembles other products in Scottsdale, Arizona. ## Drone Manufacturing: A Glimmer of Transparency? In contrast to its ALPR cameras, **Flock** has been more forthcoming about its new surveillance drone manufacturing. Last October, the company announced the opening of its own facility in Smyrna, Georgia, for assembling drones and solar panels, and refurbishing other products. This move aligns with US laws that increasingly restrict the use of foreign-made drones, indicating a potential shift towards greater domestic production in specific product lines. Ultimately, the evolving and opaque supply chain for **Flock Safety**'s core product raises critical questions for IT security professionals about the integrity and trustworthiness of surveillance infrastructure deployed across the nation. The call for greater transparency and robust oversight remains paramount, regardless of where the final assembly takes place.