The City of Des Moines recently clarified that no federal law enforcement agencies – including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – have access to data from the city’s Flock safety cameras, following community questions about the technology’s use and privacy protections.
“The Des Moines Police Department has verified that no federal law-enforcement partners have access to our Flock data,” the city said in a statement.
According to the city, several changes were made last month to strengthen privacy and ensure compliance with Washington state law. All federal agencies were removed from the department’s data-sharing list, cutting off any direct access to camera data “for any reason.”
The department also removed all out-of-state agencies, limiting access to Washington-based law enforcement partners who are bound by state privacy laws. Additionally, the “National Lookup” feature was disabled to block any potential nationwide or out-of-state access.
“These measures effectively close any ‘front door, back door, or side door’ paths to our data,” the statement said. “Our department’s use of Flock remains focused on local public-safety efforts — such as locating stolen vehicles or investigating serious crimes — while maintaining strong safeguards around data access and privacy.”
The city added that it values transparency and accountability and will continue to ensure its use of camera technology reflects community expectations and Washington law.
