ECAM vs Flock Safety: Comparing Live Monitoring, LPR, and Data Privacy

Protecting Your Property Shouldn’t Create New Security Risks

It’s 1 a.m., and the construction site is silent. The gates are locked for the night behind a perimeter fence. But that doesn’t stop a would-be thief who has been eyeing the HVAC units waiting to be installed, each packed with copper that can be sold for scrap. Over the fence he goes. ECAM’s AI-powered surveillance cameras have already spotted their movement, and the remote monitoring team activates flashing lights and alarms sending them running.

Down the street, a similar site experiences suspicious activity of its own. A truck backs up to a gate left unlocked by crews. The camera records their activity and captures the license plate. However, the criminals fill the truck with raw lumber and get away, only to be seen on video a day later when construction crews realize materials are missing. Although the license plate information was captured and the thieves may be tracked down eventually, the material is gone and the project’s timeline has been thrown off course.

This illustrative scenario depicts what happens when businesses choose to invest in two completely different types of surveillance technologies to protect their properties, people and assets. The first represents ECAM’s approach to proactive video security, while the second highlights Flock Safety. 

Physical deterrence is the name of the game – stopping crime before it impacts a business. That’s why must haves like comprehensive data protection and live monitoring must be considered when choosing security solutions.

Data Privacy in the Spotlight

In August 2026, The Washington Post published an investigation documenting how law enforcement personnel misused automated license plate recognition (LPR) systems, including Flock’s, to track individuals for unauthorized purposes. Subsequent reporting raised additional questions about access controls, oversight, and the ability of former personnel to continue searching surveillance records.

These incidents illustrate how information originally collected for security or public safety can be misused when access and oversight are insufficient. For businesses evaluating commercial security, those findings raise important questions about data access and accountability. They also reinforce the need to look beyond the cameras themselves.

ECAM’s Approach to Comprehensive Security and Data Protection

ECAM’s approach begins with a primary objective to protect commercial properties through an integrated combination of technology, professional monitoring, and response. LPR can support that objective, but is only one component of a broader security solution 

ECAM prioritizes real-time crime deterrence, paired with the following data protection standards:

• Secure, private data transmission: ECAM uses patented technology and advanced encryption to protect data as it moves from its devices to its AI cloud. Everything travels over ECAM’s own private network with no internet-addressable IP addresses, and storage follows the data sovereignty rules of each jurisdiction.
• No facial or personal recognition: ECAM’s devices do not identify individuals through facial recognition or other personal recognition. The system isn’t connected to any database that could supply that kind of identifying information.
• Behavior-based predictive analysis with built-in bias mitigation: ECAM’s predictive analytics look only at motion patterns and movements that signal suspicious behavior, keeping that analysis separate from anyone’s identifying characteristics.

ECAM: Every Camera Always Monitored

ECAM’s data protection policies combined with real-time crime deterrence have laid the foundation for North America’s #1 video security provider. ECAM’s true differentiator is summed up by the mantra: Every Camera Always Monitored. A camera recording with no live monitoring or intervention capabilities doesn’t stop crime. ECAM’s live monitoring does.

The proof is in the results:

• 170,000+ cameras monitored
• 50,000+ crimes deterred annually
• 30,000+ police dispatches annually
• 1,400+ arrest annually

ECAM operates its own professional monitoring centers, with trained personnel responsible for reviewing and verifying security events. Its operational model focuses on detecting suspicious activity, assessing potential threats, and following defined response procedures tailored to each site.

This combination of people, processes and technology provides a foundation for evaluating ECAM’s approach to responsible and reliable security.

ECAM vs Flock Safety: Key Differences

Choosing between them means evaluating not only what their technology can detect, but considering how each provider approaches property protection, security operations, and the handling of sensitive surveillance information. Here’s where ECAM pulls ahead:

Category	ECAM	Flock Safety
Primary Focus	Comprehensive commercial property security and proactive crime prevention	Vehicle identification, security intelligence, and investigative tools
Live Video Monitoring	170,000+ ECAM cameras live monitored 24/7 x 365 resulting in 50,000+ crimes deterred each year	Monitoring available beyond standard service
License Plate Recognition	Available as part of ECAM’s broader property security solutions	Core product capability with connected vehicle search tools
Security Response	Real-time human verification, live audio deterrence, notifications, and appropriate escalation	Alerts with tools to manage incidents
Mobile Surveillance	Monitored Mobile Surveillance Units with flexible coverage and deterrence capabilities	Mobile security trailers with video analytics
Service Model	Integrated design, installation, professional monitoring, maintenance, and support	Equipment, software, installation, maintenance, support
Data Architecture & Sharing	Encrypted transmission, closed private network, and jurisdiction-specific storage practices	Cloud-based connected platform with configurable retention, access, and sharing controls (with optional law enforcement sharing)
Best Fit	Businesses seeking broad proactive property protection, active live monitoring, and coordinated response to prevent crime	Organizations prioritizing vehicle intelligence, connected searches, and investigative capabilities

Choose Security That Protects More Than Your Property

There’s a reason ECAM is North America’s #1 video security provider.

Flock’s focus on LPR and investigative features can serve organizations prioritizing vehicle identification and information sharing after an incident occurs.

ECAM provides comprehensive commercial security built around proactive monitoring, human verification, real-time intervention, and integrated support, with LPR available as one piece of the entire solution. ECAM’s goal is to stop crime before it becomes a problem, not chase criminals after the fact.

Whether your property needs license plate recognition, live video monitoring, mobile surveillance, or comprehensive perimeter protection, ECAM can help identify the right combination of capabilities.

Speak to a Security Expert to discuss a solution built around your business.