A new Grand Theft Auto V mod has scattered 235 simulated Flock surveillance cameras across Los Santos, giving players another way to attract police attention and another target to destroy.
The mod, Grand Theft Automated License Plate Reader, was created by modder WTTDOTM. Its cameras photograph and track players, log license plate information, and report in-game offenses to police. Players can also destroy the devices across the fictional city and save the footage to share online.
In a promotional video posted on TikTok, WTTDOTM said, “Flock is a scourge on America.”
The in-game jab arrives as opposition to real-world Flock camera networks keeps building, along with questions about how much access police should have to location records.
WTTDOTM also said, “It’s a private, eight-billion-dollar surveillance company that operates over 100,000 cameras across the country. If you think the 235 in this mod are bad, just understand that that is one-tenth of the cameras currently installed in LA County, which Los Santos is based on.”
The privacy fight around Flock cameras
Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers record vehicle plates and other identifying details. Supporters say the systems help police search records to investigate crimes, recover stolen vehicles, and locate missing people.
Critics argue the technology raises serious privacy concerns, and they also point to repeated misuse of the data by law enforcement.
Pushback against Flock cameras has reached Congress. The concerns include tracking people who are not suspected of crimes, how long data is retained, and what kind of oversight exists for police use. A Washington Post investigation found at least 69 police officials had been accused, charged, or convicted of misusing Flock or similar license plate reader systems.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras, a decision his office confirmed to the Texas Tribune.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley has defended the technology’s public-safety purpose. In an interview with Fox News, he said privacy and safety require compromise and argued regulation should focus on data retention and accountability for officers who abuse the system.
Part of a longer modding tradition
The Flock camera mod sits within a long-running tradition of players changing games by adding new features, altering how they work, or building their own missions.
In 2021, creator keanuWheeze released the Metro System mod for Cyberpunk 2077, adding rideable trains to the game. The mod became popular enough that CD Projekt Red later introduced an official, fully functional metro system inspired by it.
GTA VI hype keeps growing
Players are still finding new ways to reshape GTA V while Rockstar prepares Grand Theft Auto VI. The sequel will return to Vice City in the fictional state of Leonida, with Jason and Lucia leading the story.
That anticipation has also drawn scammers. Researchers at NordVPN identified fake applications, phishing sites, and malware campaigns designed to exploit interest in GTA VI, including offers promising exclusive beta access.