{
  "version": "3.33",
  "compiled": "2026-10-09",
  "site": "https://stateofwatch.com",
  "claim": {
    "id": "cancellation-count",
    "section": 5,
    "title": "227 local governments have canceled plate-reader contracts",
    "date": "Sept 22, 2026",
    "sort": "2026-09-22",
    "status": "verified",
    "checked": "3.28",
    "note": "IJ.org's live database fetched directly in v3.28. The 227 individual entries and their source links have not been independently checked, so they are not mapped here.",
    "category": "backlash",
    "body": "Institute for Justice's database (which excludes pauses and vendor swaps): 163 local governments across 31 states plus DC as of Sept 3, 2026, growing to 227 as of Sept 22, 2026. Newsweek and DeFlock (Aug 27): at least 56 cities and towns in 2026 alone; DeFlock's late-July breakdown was 47 canceled, 25 rejected, 22 deactivated. Per the Javorsky complaint's footnotes, Santa Cruz, Richmond, Los Gatos, and Los Altos Hills are weighing or ending Flock contracts, alongside Mountain View and Los Altos.",
    "quotes": [
      {
        "text": "As of Sept. 22, 2026, 227 local governments are included in IJ's database",
        "from": "Institute for Justice"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "label": "Institute for Justice cancellation database",
        "primary": true,
        "url": "https://ij.org/institute-for-justice-unveils-new-database-tracking-cancelations-of-license-plate-reader-contracts/"
      },
      {
        "label": "Yahoo/Newsweek"
      },
      {
        "label": "findingflock.com"
      },
      {
        "label": "deflocktheusa.com"
      },
      {
        "label": "Local News Matters, Feb 3, 2026"
      },
      {
        "label": "Los Gatan, Jan 28, 2026"
      }
    ],
    "places": [
      "santa-cruz-ca",
      "richmond-ca",
      "los-gatos-ca",
      "los-altos-hills-ca",
      "los-altos-ca"
    ],
    "url": "https://stateofwatch.com/claims/cancellation-count"
  }
}