BBC World Service - The Documentary Podcast, Big surveillance, Flock and ICE Homepage Accessibility links * Skip to content * Accessibility Help Close menu BBC World Service The Documentary Podcast * Podcast * The Explanation * People Fixing the World * CrowdScience Main content Listen now Big surveillance, Flock and ICE The Documentary Podcast The United States is monitored through a growing, high-tech, and increasingly interconnected surveillance network. But a backlash is growing. Show more AI cameras, drones, licence plate readers, sound detection, Flock - the United States is monitored through a growing, high-tech, and increasingly interconnected surveillance network. In some cities, like Houston, Texas, the true extent of this system is a secret. Law enforcement says this is all for public safety - to prevent crime and assist investigations. Critics think it is an invasion of privacy, open to misuse, and a sneaky tool aiding ICE in President Trump’s deportation drive. One company is bearing the brunt of the backlash: Flock Safety. Its network of AI-powered licence plate readers spans over 6000 communities, generating 20 billion vehicle scans a month. Vigilantes have been cutting down Flock devices. Social media is full of tips on how to obstruct or disable the cameras. Ellie House is in Houston, Texas, to investigate the surveillance network authorities do not want you to know about. She sees how Flock has been used by police to fight crime, gets inside the anti-surveillance techlash, and she sits down with Flock CEO Garrett Langley in his Atlanta HQ. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from Assignment. Show less Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) Release date: 01 September 2026 Available now 27 minutes More episodes See all episodes from The Documentary Podcast Featured * . Podcast * The Documentary Podcast Hear the voices at the heart of global stories Related Content Similar programmes By genre: * Factual By format: * Documentaries * Podcasts * Online schedule * Help & FAQs * Contact us * News in more than 40 languages * Terms of Use * About the BBC * Privacy Policy * Privacy Policy * Cookies * Cookies * Accessibility Help * Parental Guidance * Contact the BBC * Make an editorial complaint * Careers * BBC emails for you * Advertise with us Copyright (c) 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.