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[TECHNOLOGY] · United States · 76 sources

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Flock Safety implements new privacy safeguards for license plate readers

Flock Safety, a major provider of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), is implementing significant platform changes following reports of law enforcement misuse. Documented abuses, including officers using the technology to stalk individuals, have fueled privacy concerns and a growing movement to reject the surveillance system.

Key updates include reducing the default data retention period from 30 days to seven days and requiring officers to link every search to a specific criminal case number. The company is also introducing an automated audit tool to flag abnormal search activity. Additionally, new features will allow municipalities to restrict data access to prevent use in immigration enforcement.

Despite these measures, opposition remains high. More than 50 agencies and municipalities have canceled, suspended, or rejected Flock contracts since January 2026. Activists have engaged in direct action, including the destruction of cameras across multiple states. Critics, including the ACLU, argue that these changes do not address the fundamental issue of lack of judicial oversight.

Entities

ACLU · ACLU of Rhode Island · American Civil Liberties Union · Ben Zawacki · Christopher Walters · City of Surprise · Coshocton County · Coshocton County Sheriff's Office · Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office · DeFlock · Electronic Frontier Foundation · Flock Safety

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