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Alpr

All articles tagged with #alpr

technology5 days ago•6 min saved

Your Plate in the Logs: Decoding HaveIBeenFlocked's ALPR Audits

HaveIBeenFlocked.com lets people see if their license plate appears in audit logs of ALPR searches conducted by Flock’s customers; a “hit” means the plate was looked up, not that the vehicle is under investigation or passed through cameras. The results come from public records requests and can be incomplete (latest data through July 31, 2026). The site notes it does not store plate numbers itself, and displayed entries include the officer’s initials and a 30-day lookup window when available. While ALPRs can aid crime-solving, privacy concerns persist, and several Michigan communities have ended contracts with Flock in response to public feedback.

via FOX 2 Detroit|

#alpr #flock #license-plate

technology5 days ago•9 min saved

After Flock, U.S. cities shift to Axon ALPRs as privacy concerns persist

Activists celebrated Longmont’s decision to drop Flock, but cities nationwide quickly replaced Flock’s license-plate readers with Axon’s ALPRs, intensifying a national debate over privacy, data retention, and cross-agency access. Officials argue ALPRs aid crime solving, while privacy advocates warn that swapping vendors doesn’t fix underlying governance; some municipalities are introducing safeguards and review boards, but local surveillance persists and calls for stronger data governance grow louder.

via The Guardian|

#alpr #data-retention #flock-safety

technology7 days ago•7 min saved

Wisconsin cities bolt Flock, shrinking the shared ALPR network

Wisconsin towns pulling out of Flock’s shared license-plate reader program over privacy concerns are eroding the network’s usefulness, as fewer partner agencies mean less data access and a weaker network effect, prompting switches to other vendors and tighter safeguards.

via Ars Technica|

#alpr #flock #network-effects

technology12 days ago•334 min saved

Flock Tightens Police Oversight With Audits, Shorter Data Retention

Flock Safety announced new safety controls after scrutiny of its license-plate reader network: it will require all agencies to enable its Audit Assistance feature by year-end to flag abnormal searches, require case-number justifications (emergencies exempt), and lock users for administrator review when misuse is detected. The company is also reducing its default data retention from 30 days to seven (adjustable by state/local policy) and introducing an “evidence mode” to preserve data longer for case-linked searches, plus options for jurisdictions to limit cross-agency data access. CEO Garrett Langley says the measures aim to prevent police misuse and rebuild community trust, though privacy advocates remain wary and some cities have canceled contracts or shifted to competitors like Axon.

via CNN|

#accountability #alpr #data-retention

technology20 days ago•2 min saved

Google AI Overstates Gold in Flock Cameras, Sparking Scrapyard Myths

Google’s AI Overview falsely asserts that Flock safety cameras contain 1–5 grams of gold and 2–23 pounds of copper, based on dubious sources; in reality, metals are of negligible value and the claims reflect how AI can amplify misinformation surrounding surveillance tech.

via Futurism|

#ai #alpr #misinformation

technology22 days ago•28 min saved

Texas grapples with fast-expanding Flock ALPR network amid privacy concerns

Texas is seeing a rapid expansion of Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras across cities and along highways, feeding data to a broad network of local and state agencies with nationwide lookup capabilities that can bypass warrants. The push has ignited a privacy backlash, with some cities terminating contracts, lawmakers proposing warrant requirements, and advocates raising concerns about misidentifications, data security, and potential use in immigration enforcement. Public records show thousands of cameras in the state (including dozens around Waco) and ongoing debates about safeguards, while DPS highlights data sharing with hundreds of partners and the cameras’ role in solving crimes, despite incidents of vandalism and misuse reports across the country.

via The Texas Tribune|

#alpr #flock-safety #law-enforcement-data-sharing

law24 days ago•56 min saved

Tow-Truck License-Plate Network Surpasses 9 Billion Scans, Court Rules Privacy Claim Lacks Standing

California's ALPR law functions largely as a paperwork requirement for private plate-tracking networks, and Mata's privacy suit failed for lack of standing even as tow-truck cameras helped build a nine-billion-image archive used by insurers and repossession firms.

via Yahoo|

#alpr #california-law #digital-recognition-network

politics26 days ago•33 min saved

Delaware’s Flock ALPRs: Public Safety Tool or Privacy Flashpoint?

Delaware police agencies use Flock Safety automated license plate readers (ALPRs) across multiple departments to help solve crimes and locate missing people, with about 20 agencies involved; supporters say it’s a crucial tech upgrade, while privacy advocates and the ACLU warn it constitutes warrantless mass surveillance, risk data sharing with federal agencies like ICE, and potential misuse, and Delaware has yet to implement state guardrails despite protests and calls for limits from lawmakers and residents.

via WHYY|

#alpr #delaware #flock-safety

technology26 days ago•5 min saved

Crash-risk poles: Flock ALPR cameras under scrutiny for roadside hazards in Ohio

Safety advocates warn that Flock Safety ALPR cameras mounted on dark, unshielded roadside poles—often without breakaway safety features—pose serious crash risks on rural Ohio roads, challenging state installation standards. While Flock and police departments tout crime-reduction benefits and claim compliance, investigators found many poles lack required safety inspections or breakaway design, prompting calls for stricter oversight and safer pole installations even as the cameras remain widely deployed.

via The Guardian|

#alpr #flock-safety #roadside-safety

technology2 months ago•3 min saved

SignalTrace: New Tech Links Your Devices to Your Car, Expanding Surveillance

Leonardo’s SignalTrace (ELSAG SignalTrace) is a new device that reads electronic signatures from devices like phones, smartwatches, and air tags and links them with license plate data from ALPRs to map individuals’ movements and even convoys. The company claims it only flags signatures during investigations and does not decrypt content, but privacy advocates warn that opting out isn’t possible and the expanded data linkage raises legitimate concerns about misuse and chilling effects in policing.

via Jalopnik|

#alpr #data-collection #privacy

local-news6 months ago•23 min saved

Lynnwood ends Flock ALPR contract amid privacy concerns

Lynnwood’s City Council voted 7-0 to cancel its two-year, $171,000 contract with Flock Safety for 25 automated license-plate readers after public privacy concerns and a UW report showing out-of-state agencies accessed the city’s network, including immigration-enforcement lookups; Lynnwood becomes one of the first WA cities to end Flock ALPR use, while others pause or reconsider the program as lawmakers weigh new regulation. The financial impact of the cancellation is not yet clear.

via HeraldNet.com|

#alpr #contract-termination #flock-safety