Flock Tightens Plate-Reader Rules After Stalking Cases
Flock Tightens Plate-Reader Rules After Stalking Cases
The News
What changed
Flock Safety, the maker of the automated license plate reader cameras used by police across the country, announced Thursday it is tightening privacy and oversight controls on its network after documented misuse by officers, Stateline and the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported.
Under the new rules, the company will recommend agencies retain plate-reader data for seven days, down from 30, per Stateline. Every search of the database must be tied to a specific case, NBC4 Columbus reported.
Reactions
Flock's CEO apologized Thursday over incidents in which officers abused the cameras, according to Townhall.
Critics: not enough
The changes have not quieted the backlash, and the criticism is bipartisan.
An Institute for Justice attorney told Reason the new rules "will do nothing to protect innocent people from warrantless mass surveillance." A Texas congressman called the reforms "lipstick on a pig," per Texas Scorecard.
Flock's cofounders, interviewed at the company's Atlanta headquarters by Vanity Fair, rejected the criticism around privacy, stalking and the Fourth Amendment and defended the system as a law enforcement tool.
What's Next
In Ohio, a bipartisan effort in the legislature would limit Flock camera use, NBC4 Columbus reported. Cleveland.com reported the city already has many of the announced safeguards in place.
More
Why it happened
The Independent reported some law enforcement officers have been accused of using the cameras for personal ends — to stalk partners and ex-partners.
Daily Kos reported officers at more than 7,000 police departments have repeatedly misused the roughly 120,000 cameras deployed nationwide.
In Georgia, where misuse by officers surfaced, a website called "Have I Been Flocked" now lets drivers check whether their plate appears in publicly released Flock audit logs, 11Alive reported.
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