Flock Safety is introducing mandatory safeguards for its license plate reader systems following multiple reports of police officers using the technology for personal reasons. The company currently provides camera networks to over 6,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States. Recent incidents in several states revealed officers tracking ex-partners or running unauthorized searches on acquaintances, leading to increased scrutiny and contract terminations from cities like Chandler, Arizona.
Under the new policy, every search conducted through the Flock system will require an explicit case code and a description of the offense. This aims to prevent officers from entering vague justifications for their queries. Additionally, the company is making its audit assistance tool mandatory for every department. This feature automatically flags abnormal search patterns, such as repeated queries for the same license plate or high-volume activity during off-hours, and triggers an immediate lockout pending administrative review.
Data retention policies are also shifting. Flock is reducing the default storage time from 30 days to seven days, unless the information is explicitly tied to an active investigation under evidence mode. Departments will also gain more control over data sharing, allowing them to restrict which types of investigations other agencies can access through their camera feeds.
CEO Garrett Langley stated that the company remains committed to both public safety and individual privacy. He noted that while police misconduct involving official databases has occurred for decades, technology companies have a responsibility to build technical barriers that prevent such misuse. By forcing universal adoption of these monitoring tools, the company intends to identify and block rogue users before they can continue their behavior. These changes come as local governments and civil liberty groups debate the extent of surveillance in public spaces.