Flock Tightens 120,000-Camera Search Rules After 50 Misuse Cases as Loopholes Persist
Updated
Updated · MIT Technology Review · Aug 17
Flock Tightens 120,000-Camera Search Rules After 50 Misuse Cases as Loopholes Persist
3 articles · Updated · MIT Technology Review · Aug 17
Summary
Flock said officers must now enter a criminal case number for license-plate searches and will face software checks for abnormal activity after 50 documented misuse cases, including stalking and harassment.
The new controls still leave major gaps: Flock told MIT Technology Review it does not verify case numbers, meaning officers can enter bogus ones and potentially evade the safeguard.
90% of searches occur within a week of an incident, yet agencies can still retain and share plate-reader data for months or years across Flock’s nationwide network, fueling criticism that the system enables mass surveillance.
An $8 billion company under growing backlash, Flock has already seen some cities cancel contracts while states weigh limits or bans, raising pressure for narrower rules or new laws.