Ohio abortion rights group raises concern that Flock could be used to track patients

NBC 4 ^ | August 20,2026 | Ava Boldizar

[Morgana]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A reproductive rights group is raising concern that Flock automated license plate readers could be used to track abortion patients in Columbus.

On Aug. 10, Columbus City Council had a hearing to receive community feedback on Flock cameras, which capture vehicle details and license plates. The technology is often used by police to track suspects and missing people.

The council meeting was spurred by growing local scrutiny of the cameras over concerns about privacy and data sharing with federal immigration enforcement.

Abortion Forward Deputy Director Jaime Miracle spoke at the hearing, urging the council to remove all of the city’s automated license plate readers (ALPRs). She argued that people seeking abortions in Columbus from states where the procedure is illegal or restricted could be tracked with the city’s cameras and potentially prosecuted.

“Ensure that people coming to our city to get the abortion care they need are protected from vindictive and intrusive investigation and prosecution by their home state,” she said. “The only way to make that happen is to end the contract with Flock and permanently remove all ALPRs.”

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. Thereafter, Ohio’s six-week abortion ban went into effect for about 82 days. The six-week ban was ultimately put on hold by an Ohio judge, and then in November 2023, Ohio voters passed an amendment enshrining the right to abortion in the state’s constitution.

In the midst of the six-week ban taking effect in 2022, Columbus passed a resolution that states “city funds will not be used to … provide information to any other governmental body or agency about any abortion” or to “conduct surveillance or collect information …

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TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: abortion; ohio; prolife

[Morgana]

I thought abortion was legal in Ohio, so why do they care if they are caught on Candid Camera?