Flock Safety cameras misused by US police to track individuals
Flock Safety's automatic license plate reader systems deployed across the United States were misused by police officers in multiple jurisdictions to track individuals for personal purposes. The incidents prompted investigations in Arizona and Ohio, and public backlash led Denver and other cities to terminate or decline to renew contracts with the company.
What happened
Flock Safety automatic license plate readers deployed across the United States with over 120,000 cameras installed. The cameras use artificial intelligence to capture vehicle license plates, color, make, model, and other identifying characteristics, and are accessible to police agencies across state and municipal boundaries.
Police officers in multiple jurisdictions misused the system for personal purposes. In Reynoldsburg, Ohio, one officer used the technology more than 40 times to locate an ex-partner, leading to the officer's resignation. In Arizona, police officers were investigated for allegedly using the cameras to locate an officer's wife. Three Arizona cities opened investigations into such misuse.
Reported impact
Activists and citizens raised concerns about constant surveillance and potential abuse of vehicle data by law enforcement and immigration authorities. The uneven geographic distribution of cameras in New York raised questions about unequal surveillance, with Queens and Brooklyn containing 20 cameras each while Manhattan had only three.
Public opposition grew, leading jurisdictions to terminate contracts. Denver decided not to renew its contract after strong public backlash, with the contract ending on March 31. Lago Vista, a town near Austin, Texas, voted unanimously to rescind its Flock contract.
Index analysis
The system's design enables broad data collection and cross-jurisdictional access, creating risk vectors for misuse when officers retain individual discretion in queries. The unequal deployment pattern across New York City districts suggests surveillance infrastructure focused on specific communities.
Governance controls
Flock Safety reportedly strengthened controls following discovery of officer misuse, according to available reports. Some jurisdictions including Denver implemented oversight by selecting alternative vendors instead of renewing Flock contracts.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.