Flock cameras have gained notoriety and are often met with public disdain. A major concern stems from allegations that law enforcement has misused these devices for invasive surveillance, including spying on individuals and tracking former partners.
In response, the company is rolling out new updates aimed at curbing misuse by police and other organizations. A previously optional feature known as Audit Assistance will now be mandatory. This feature is designed to identify “abnormal search behavior” and will restrict access for suspicious users until a review is conducted by an administrator.
Moreover, officers will now need to input specific case codes to conduct searches, a measure intended to limit unauthorized personal inquiries. However, administrators retain the ability to override this requirement in specific cases.
“I’ve learned a lot in my nine years with Flock Safety,” said CEO Garrett Langley. “Today we’re introducing changes that reflect what we’ve heard from our clients and the communities they serve. We’re setting a new standard for privacy and accountability in public safety.”
Langley admitted, “This is such an obvious way to curb abuse… we might have gotten this wrong in the past.” Reports of officers using Flock cameras to stalk individuals have been in circulation since 2021.
Additionally, the retention period for data collected by the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) will be reduced from 30 days to just one week. There will be exceptions for ongoing investigations, but this change primarily affects new clients. Existing customers will have the option to maintain their previously agreed-upon data retention periods.
Langley, previously defensive about criticisms aimed at Flock, has toned down his rhetoric after facing significant public outcry. “I’m just asking for a fair chance,” he remarked, acknowledging the company’s impact.
While these updates may help to reduce police misuse, public discontent with Flock extends beyond that issue. Organizations such as the ACLU have raised concerns about the company supposedly overstating the capabilities of its cameras, which are believed to do more than simply read license plates.
There have been instances reported where Flock cameras were allegedly used to track individuals seeking abortions, as well as people traveling across state lines for legal marijuana purchases.
Reports also suggest that Flock data has been shared with immigration enforcement, to which Langley stated that Texas would pursue immigration regardless of Flock’s involvement. Disturbingly, at least 24 individuals have reportedly died in ICE custody this year.
The backlash against Flock has been significant. Some law enforcement agencies, including those in Los Angeles, have cut ties with the company. Community reactions have also escalated, with incidents of vandalism or theft of Flock cameras occurring nationwide. In one Minnesota town, an entire set of Flock cameras vanished overnight, prompting the local police to declare they would not be replacing them.
