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Flock Safety faces growing US backlash over surveillance network
Flock Safety, a prominent provider of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), is facing intense scrutiny and growing public resistance across the United States. While law enforcement agencies defend the technology as a vital tool for identifying suspects, stolen vehicles, and missing persons, civil liberties advocates warn of mass surveillance and privacy violations.
Reports have surfaced regarding a proposed, though unexecuted, plan by Flock to partner with Nexar to turn approximately 350,000 civilian vehicles—including Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers—into a mobile scanning network. This ambition has fueled concerns about the potential for pervasive, real-time tracking of ordinary citizens.
Resistance to the technology is manifesting in several ways. In some municipalities, such as Narragansett, Rhode Island, local governments have voted to terminate contracts with Flock due to privacy concerns. Additionally, a grassroots movement has emerged, with individuals using social media to share methods for disabling cameras and creating collaborative maps of their locations. The company also faces allegations of misuse, with reports indicating that some officers have used the system for unauthorized purposes.
Entities
El Mirage Police Department · Flock Safety · Garrett Langley · Johnathan Paz · LAPD · Lyft · Nexar · Uber
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An automated gunshot-detection system alerted officers to a shooting in Arizona before a 911 call was placed. californiaglobe.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The proposed partnership with Nexar to facilitate the mobile scanning network was never executed. bitcoinethereumnews.com · sea.mashable.com · mashable.com · www.lebardegandi.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Binghamton City Council passed a resolution calling for the termination of its license plate reader contracts. wnbf.com
- [DISPUTED] Flock Safety has installed more than 100,000 license plate reader cameras across the United States. eluniverso.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.utusan.com.my · bitcoinethereumnews.com · time.news
- [● 3 SOURCES] Flock's promotional videos featured at least four police departments where officers later faced allegations of technology misuse. www.indiavision.com · bitcoinethereumnews.com · dnyuz.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The company proposed a plan to use 350,000 dashcams from Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers to create a mobile scanning network. bitcoinethereumnews.com · sea.mashable.com · mashable.com · www.lebardegandi.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Narragansett, Rhode Island, voted unanimously to terminate its contract with Flock Safety due to privacy concerns. www.thecooldown.com