A class action lawsuit has been filed against Home Depot, alleging that the company illegally and secretly monitored California customers’ vehicles using Flock camera technology. The lawsuit claims that this collected information was stored in a database accessible by law enforcement.
The core of the claim is that Home Depot’s use of Flock cameras in its parking lots, particularly in California, constituted a violation of customer privacy. According to the complaint, these cameras capture details such as license plate information, vehicle make, model, color, and precise timestamps and locations of vehicles entering and exiting Home Depot properties. This data is then allegedly fed into a centralized database that law enforcement agencies can access.
Reports from news outlets in August and November 2025 are cited in the lawsuit, indicating that law enforcement agencies, including a Texas sheriff’s office and police departments in San Diego, had the ability to access license plate reader data from Home Depot locations.
The plaintiffs argue that this practice violates California privacy laws, specifically citing California Civil Code Section 1798.90.5. This section of the law pertains to automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and discusses damages that may be awarded to individuals. The lawsuit suggests that individuals could be entitled to a minimum of $2,500 each under this law.
Home Depot’s privacy policy includes a section on ALPRs, which outlines the potential sale, sharing, or transfer of data collected by these cameras, as well as defining who is authorized to access this information.
It’s important to note that claims circulating on social media have introduced inaccuracies. Specifically, the lawsuit does not mention the tracking of customers’ faces. A spokesperson for Flock confirmed that their products do not have facial recognition technology. Additionally, while the lawsuit does cite a $2,500 figure, it refers to a minimum amount per individual as stipulated by California law, not a maximum payment.
The case is ongoing, and the ultimate outcome, including any potential payments to plaintiffs, remains to be determined. A management conference for the case has been scheduled for August 10, 2026.
This lawsuit should not be confused with a separate case from 2025 that alleged Home Depot used facial recognition technology at checkout lanes, which has since been dismissed.
Reference