Flock, a police-tech company with a network of 120,000 automatic license plate readers across the US, introduced new platform updates last Thursday. The changes are designed to prevent law enforcement from using the system for illegal activities, such as stalking. The Washington Post recently identified 50 cases where officers misused Flock and its competitors' systems, often to harass women. One woman in Wisconsin claimed her ex-boyfriend officer searched for her car 179 times, while another was stalked by the chief of police, with no one to report the abuse to.
Flock’s updates include software to flag abnormal searches and a requirement for officers to enter a criminal case number before conducting a search. However, the company confirmed it does not verify these case numbers, allowing officers to input false information. Critics argue that these policies fail to address broader concerns from civil liberties groups, who claim Flock is transforming its crime-fighting tool into a mass surveillance network. These criticisms have led to some cities canceling contracts with Flock and states attempting to pass laws to limit or ban license plate readers entirely.
The company has faced growing backlash, with some defending Flock by arguing that its cameras help solve crime. However, the debate centers on what kind of crime-fighting system Flock has chosen to build. Its network operates based on decisions about data collection, access, retention, and sharing, which set the terms of the bargain between security and civil liberties. The company’s recent changes, including a seven-day data retention recommendation, highlight the ongoing tension between surveillance and privacy.
Source: mittr
