Documented Incident
Idaho resident files tort claims against Caldwell and Wilder over Flock data-sharing terms
Event: June 15, 2026 · First reported: June 25, 2026 · 1 source
Tyler Cain of Wilder, Idaho, filed tort claims against the city of Caldwell on June 15 and against Wilder the following day, arguing their contracts with Flock Safety violate an Idaho statute barring use of automated license plate reader data for non-law-enforcement purposes. Cain points to contract language granting Flock an "irrevocable, worldwide license" to use customer data, which he says lets the company train its algorithms on locally collected plate reads. He seeks $1,000 from each city for invasion of privacy and unjust enrichment, and wants Caldwell to bar sharing its data with Flock's national camera network. Caldwell said its city attorney is reviewing whether the contract complies with state law; the Wilder mayor's office declined to comment.
The claims test whether standard Flock contract terms conflict with state ALPR statutes, an argument that could be raised in other states with similar restrictions. They also raise questions about how surveillance purchases are approved, since Cain says Wilder's cameras were authorized without public council discussion.
Key facts
- Tort claims — a possible precursor to a lawsuit — were filed against Caldwell on June 15 and Wilder on June 16; Caldwell has until Sept. 13 to respond.
- Cain seeks $1,000 from each city and asks Caldwell to amend its Flock contract to block sharing with the company's national network.
- Cain says Wilder's police chief told him the mayor approved the cameras directly; Wilder's 2025 budget included a $10,000 police "equipment" outlay that did not name Flock.
- Cain has started a voter initiative in Wilder to force a City Council vote on the three Flock installations added since the start of the year, and says he is working with residents in Twin Falls and Idaho Falls on similar claims.
- The article reports more than 106,000 ALPR cameras operate in the U.S., over 87,000 of them run by Flock, and that at least 30 localities have ended Flock contracts; Flock states on its website that customers own their data and it is not sold.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Why one Idaho man is threatening to sue these cities over Flock Safety cameras (eastidahonews.com, June 25, 2026)
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About this record
BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated August 10, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.