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politics21 days ago

Hawley summons AI-surveillance chiefs for privacy hearing

Sen. Josh Hawley invites Flock CEO Garrett Langley and leaders from Axon, Motorola Solutions, and Verkada to testify before a Senate subcommittee on the privacy and security implications of AI-powered surveillance networks and license-plate data, pressing questions about who can access billions of images and how protections fend off hacking, as Democrats push probes into data practices and the FBI defends the tech’s use in specific cases.

via Politico|
#flock#hawley#hearing
Hackers Leak Flock ALPR System, Revealing How It Tracks Cars and People
technology24 days ago

Hackers Leak Flock ALPR System, Revealing How It Tracks Cars and People

Hackers stole a Flock license-plate reader, copied its storage and recovered an encryption key, exposing on-device detection of people and thousands of images; logs show roughly 50,200 vehicle detections and about 1.6 million images across ~21 days, with plate and vehicle attributes analyzed on Flock's servers and data accessible to a nationwide network of agencies, fueling privacy concerns and prompting some jurisdictions to pause use.

via 404 Media|
#alpr#cybersecurity#flock
Florida Man’s Felony Charges for Destroying Police Decoy Camera Reduced to Misdemeanors
crime24 days ago

Florida Man’s Felony Charges for Destroying Police Decoy Camera Reduced to Misdemeanors

In Oviedo, Florida, Evan Meyer’s three felonies for destroying a police 3D-printed decoy Flock camera were downgraded to two second-degree misdemeanors after prosecutors admitted the decoy was worth less than $200, plus a petty theft charge under $750, underscoring that the device’s value was low and prompting a reevaluation of the case.

via 404 Media|
#crime#decoy-camera#flock
San Jose officer fired for sharing victim’s location via Flock with cousin
crime26 days ago

San Jose officer fired for sharing victim’s location via Flock with cousin

A San Jose police officer was fired for unauthorized access to the department's Flock license-plate data on his personal phone and for sharing a victim's location with her abuser—who was his cousin—prompting an internal investigation; no charges have been filed, but prosecutors and California lawmakers are discussing tighter rules around license-plate readers.

via The Guardian|
#california#crime#domestic-abuse
GTA V mod lets players cash in by destroying virtual ALPR cameras
technology1 month ago

GTA V mod lets players cash in by destroying virtual ALPR cameras

A WIRED piece reports a Grand Theft Auto V mod, Grand Theft Automated License Plate Reader, that places 235 Flock ALPR cameras around Los Santos. Players can smash these cameras for $600 each, with in-game logging and effects on police response, offering a cathartic take on real-world surveillance and Flock’s deployments, which have faced criticism and rollbacks in several states. The mod is framed as commentary, not an endorsement of real-world actions, and comes as GTA VI looms on the horizon.

via WIRED|
#alpr#flock#gta-v
Texas’s $1 auto-insurance fee fuels a sweeping Flock camera network, drawing privacy concerns
politics1 month ago

Texas’s $1 auto-insurance fee fuels a sweeping Flock camera network, drawing privacy concerns

Texas’ $1 annual auto-insurance fee, enacted to curb catalytic converter theft, has been redirected into expanding Flock license-plate readers. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority has funded roughly 3,200 Flock cameras with grants and about 1,200 more through a DPS contract, bringing the statewide total to around 4,400 by 2026. The program has expanded beyond theft prevention, prompting privacy concerns, local opposition, and calls for warrants or bans; Governor Abbott has paused state funding for local Flock grants, while lawmakers consider further oversight.

via Salon.com|
#auto-insurance-fee#flock#license-plate-readers
Brand-Switch ALPR: Flock Exit, Axon Expansion Keeps Surveillance in Place
technology1 month ago

Brand-Switch ALPR: Flock Exit, Axon Expansion Keeps Surveillance in Place

Flocks are dropping their ALPR cameras amid backlash, but cities are often switching to Axon, which offers similar license-plate recognition plus livestream video through Outpost cameras and the Fusus AI system. Flock reduced data retention to seven days (max one year) and halted live feeds, while Axon defaults to 30 days with no hard cap. Privacy groups like the EFF and ACLU warn that swapping brands doesn’t fix mass-surveillance concerns and call for stricter warrants and limits.

via Jalopnik|
#alpr#axon#flock
Florida Orders Removal of Flock License-Plate Cameras From State Roads
politics1 month ago

Florida Orders Removal of Flock License-Plate Cameras From State Roads

Florida's Department of Transportation ordered the removal of Flock and other license-plate reader cameras from state roads within 30 days and said it will not issue new permits, citing privacy and surveillance concerns; Gov. DeSantis has criticized the tools as potentially creating a surveillance state, while Oviedo, Volusia County, and Jacksonville begin removing cameras, signaling a broader push for guardrails on this technology.

via Orlando Sentinel|
#flock#florida#license-plate-readers
Abbott Blocks State Funds to Flock Amid Growing Bipartisan Surveillance Backlash
politics1 month ago

Abbott Blocks State Funds to Flock Amid Growing Bipartisan Surveillance Backlash

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to halt funding for Flock's AI surveillance cameras, reflecting a bipartisan backlash to mass license-plate monitoring; a Texas Tribune report linked about $30 million in grants—financed by a car-insurance surcharge—to Flock purchases for local agencies. The controversy is spreading to other states and shaping political ads and investigations into Flock's data practices, as critics warn of privacy invasions behind more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states.

via Mashable|
#flock#funding#politics
Your Plate in the Logs: Decoding HaveIBeenFlocked's ALPR Audits
technology1 month ago

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
Backlash grows against Flock license-plate cameras amid privacy concerns
politics1 month ago

Backlash grows against Flock license-plate cameras amid privacy concerns

Activists across the political spectrum are challenging Flock’s automated license-plate reader cameras over privacy and civil-liberties concerns, citing misuse by some officers and prompting several cities to end or rework contracts; Flock says it is adding misuse-detection and shortening data retention while highlighting that the system supported about 1 million investigations and 10,000 missing-person cases last year.

via axios.com|
#civil-liberties#flock#license-plate-readers
Check if your license plate was scanned by Flock cameras
tech1 month ago

Check if your license plate was scanned by Flock cameras

The Independent explains how HaveIBeenFlocked lets drivers see if their license plate has been looked up by Flock Safety’s network of over 120,000 cameras. While Flock says the system helps locate missing people, recover stolen vehicles and solve crimes, privacy concerns persist, with public records showing most searches relate to drugs or theft. Flock is cutting data retention from 30 days to seven and adding audit tools to flag abnormal searches; the ACLU calls this a partial win. The piece also notes a North Carolina officer was fired for misusing Flock to stalk an ex-partner.

via independent.co.uk|
#cameras#drivers#flock