Flock Tightens Rules on License Plate Reader Access Amid Surveillance Backlash
Flock, a technology firm specializing in police surveillance with a network of 120,000 license plate readers, has implemented new limitations on how officers can access location data due to growing criticism. Starting immediately, officers are required to input a criminal case number to conduct searches, although Flock will not authenticate these numbers. Critics point to previous instances of misuse, including an Oregon department that entered "hehehe" multiple times. The company is enhancing its automatic auditing system to identify questionable searches, though its reliability remains unproven. Flock now advises agencies to keep data for just seven days and permits limitations on search purposes. Over the last year, at least 30 cities have terminated contracts with Flock. Chad Marlow from the ACLU has called for greater accountability, labeling the backlash an "unprecedented nationwide uprising."
Key facts
- Flock announced new rules requiring officers to enter a criminal case number before searching its license plate reader data.
- The new rule is mandatory, but Flock will not verify case numbers, allowing easy circumvention.
- An automatic auditing system, previously optional, is now mandatory to flag suspicious searches, but its accuracy is unverified.
- Flock now recommends data retention of 7 days instead of 30, and allows departments to restrict searches to specific purposes.
- At least 30 cities dropped Flock contracts in the past year, according to NPR.
- Tucker Carlson has criticized Flock, saying its technology contributes to a 'slave state.'
- Some states are banning license plate readers, and some cities are switching to Axon and Motorola.
- ACLU's Chad Marlow says the changes are too small and that independent research access is needed for real accountability.
Entities
Institutions
- Flock
- ACLU
- Washington Post
- NPR
- MIT Technology Review
- DeFlock
- Axon
- Motorola
Locations
- Oregon
- United States