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Flock Safety tightens surveillance safeguards amid privacy concerns
Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based surveillance technology provider, is implementing new privacy and oversight measures for its network of over 120,000 automated license plate readers across 49 U.S. states. The company announced it will recommend reducing the default data retention period from 30 days to seven days and is introducing an ‘Evidence Mode’ to allow for longer preservation in specific criminal investigations.
These changes follow intense scrutiny and reports of misuse. An investigation by The Washington Post revealed that dozens of law enforcement officers allegedly used the technology for unauthorized purposes, including stalking romantic partners. In response, Flock is introducing mandatory case codes for searches, automated systems to flag abnormal activity, and offense-based filters that allow cities to restrict data sharing with other agencies.
Despite these updates, the company faces ongoing resistance. Approximately 50 communities have canceled or suspended contracts due to privacy concerns, and some local officials have taken direct action to disable cameras. Privacy advocacy groups, including the ACLU, have criticized the new measures as insufficient, arguing for stricter regulations such as mandatory judicial warrants and shorter retention periods.
Entities
American Civil Liberties Union · DeFlock · Electronic Frontier Foundation · Flock Safety · Garrett Langley · John D. Shirley · Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms · The Washington Post · United States · Washington Post
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 50 cities have ended their contracts with Flock Safety following privacy concerns. rocketnews.com · indypolitics.org
- [● 6 SOURCES] An investigation found dozens of cases where law enforcement officers allegedly misused the system, including to track romantic partners. vinnews.com · rocketnews.com · www.postandcourier.com · indypolitics.org · independentpress.cc
- [● 10 SOURCES] Flock Safety operates a network of more than 120,000 cameras across 49 U.S. states. vinnews.com · lite987.com · indypolitics.org · 961theeagle.com · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · +4 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Flock Safety is reducing its default data retention period from 30 days to seven days. rocketnews.com · www.thepostemail.com · www.wbrz.com · indypolitics.org · lbknews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Flock Safety is implementing automated systems to detect unusual search patterns and flag improper technology use. rocketnews.com · www.wbrz.com · indypolitics.org · lbknews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The company is introducing an 'Evidence Mode' to preserve specific records for active investigations. news.slashdot.org · indypolitics.org · lbknews.com · www.thepostemail.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ACLU argues that the new changes are insufficient and recommends a 48-hour data retention period. news.slashdot.org · rocketnews.com · www.wbrz.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The company is making case codes mandatory for all law enforcement searches. rocketnews.com · www.wbrz.com · indypolitics.org · www.thepostemail.com · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br