Flock announces changes amid backlash over its license plate reader network
- Flock Safety said it will make changes to its license plate reader platform after criticism from lawmakers, civil liberties groups and residents over privacy concerns and alleged misuse by some law enforcement users.
- The company said all law enforcement customers will be required by Jan. 1 to use an audit tool that flags unusual search behavior, and abnormal activity could trigger a lockout pending internal review.
- Flock plans to shorten its default data retention period from 30 days to seven days, while allowing longer retention when the data is tied to a case number and used as evidence.
- Customers will be able to limit which offense types outside agencies can search for, a change that could let them block searches related to immigration enforcement.
Flock Safety said Thursday it is changing its platform after rising criticism over its nationwide network of automated license plate readers. The company has faced scrutiny from lawmakers in both parties, civil liberties advocates and local residents, who say the system enables broad surveillance and has been misused by some police officers.
The company’s cameras record license plate numbers and other vehicle characteristics, and thousands of law enforcement agencies in 49 states can search and share the data across jurisdictions. Police have said the system helps in investigations, including missing-person cases and violent crimes, while critics argue it can be used for warrantless tracking.
Among the changes, Flock said law enforcement customers will have to use an audit tool that detects unusual search patterns, with abnormal behavior potentially leading to a temporary lockout. It will also require officers to enter a records-management code tied to a specific case before running a search, and emergency overrides will be flagged for review.
Flock is also reducing its default retention window from 30 days to seven days and giving customers more control over which offense categories outside agencies may search. The company said the changes are intended to address privacy concerns and give cities and departments more control over how the system is used.
Flock在车牌识别网络引发反弹之际宣布调整
Flock Safety周四表示，在其全国性自动车牌识别网络引发越来越多批评后，公司将对平台作出调整。近来，该公司受到两党议员、公民自由倡导者以及部分居民的审视，批评者认为这一系统会造成广泛监控，且一些执法人员存在滥用情况。
该公司的摄像头会记录所有经过车辆的车牌号码和其他特征。49个州的数千家执法机构可以跨辖区检索和共享这些数据。警方表示，这项技术有助于调查失踪人员和暴力犯罪案件；批评者则认为，它可能被用于无需搜查令的追踪。
Flock宣布的调整包括要求执法客户使用一项审计工具，用于发现异常搜索模式；一旦出现异常，相关账户可能会被暂时锁定。公司还要求警员在进行搜索前输入与具体案件相关的记录管理系统代码，紧急情况下的覆盖式操作也将被标记供审查。
此外，Flock将默认数据保留期从30天缩短到7天，并让客户更自主地决定外部机构可检索哪些罪名类别。公司表示，这些变化旨在回应隐私担忧，并让城市和部门对系统使用方式拥有更多控制权。