Providence New Bedford, RI, October 19, 2026 —

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee has indefinitely extended a pause on installing new Flock automated license plate readers, leaving the establishment of statewide safeguards for the technology to the General Assembly.

The State Police has provided an interim framework for police use of the readers, according to the available summary of the decision. The extension comes amid ongoing concerns about privacy and oversight of the surveillance technology.

The summary does not specify when the pause began, what prompted its extension or what provisions are included in the interim framework. It also does not state when the General Assembly may consider statewide safeguards or describe any proposed rules.

Automated license plate readers are the technology at the center of the pause. The available information does not describe how the devices collect or retain data, which agencies currently use them, or what limits the interim framework places on police access and use. Those details were not provided.

The extension concerns the installation of new Flock readers. The summary does not say whether existing readers are operating, whether their use is affected by the interim framework, or whether any installations have been canceled or delayed.

With the statewide safeguards deferred to lawmakers, the State Police framework is described as interim. The summary does not provide a timeline for legislative action or identify the specific privacy and oversight concerns raised. Further details about the framework and the General Assembly’s next steps were not provided.


Story summarized from the original created by Christopher Shea on rhodeislandcurrent.com, see more information here.

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