Rogue Police Officers Have Turned Flock's Nationwide Camera Network Into a Stalking Tool

A woman discovered her former police officer boyfriend had accessed Flock's camera system 600 times to locate her and her daughter, according to a Washington Post report. The revelation came through Have I Been Flocked, a website compiling police search logs via public records. However, the misuse of Flock extends beyond this case, as at least 50 law-enforcement officers have been charged or accused of unauthorized use, often to stalk individuals without their consent.

In 26 instances, the officers targeted former partners, spouses, girlfriends, or potential romantic interests. The Post's analysis of police and court records uncovered these cases, with Flock's system being utilized in 46 of them.

Flock, upon learning of the findings, promised to introduce improved filters and tools to prevent further abuse. The company launched a voluntary "audit assistance" feature in April, which agencies can opt into, automatically scanning officers' searches for suspicious patterns, including repeated targeting of the same vehicle or off-duty activity. Flock's CEO, Garrett Langley, acknowledged that human error is inevitable, but stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable through accountability mechanisms.

Misuse of Flock's license-plate reader technology can lead to violent confrontations, psychological manipulation, and threats of control. In Wisconsin, a police officer allegedly used Flock to check if his ex-girlfriend had visited an abortion clinic. In Kansas, a police chief used the system to approach his ex while she was intimate with another man, leading to his termination.

A Florida deputy nearly caused a collision while using Flock to monitor a young actress on a watchlist, resulting in his arrest. In California, a former deputy, Alexander Vanny, used Flock as part of a months-long campaign of stalking and humiliation against his ex-fiancée, which included hidden camera installation in her roommate's bathroom.

While some searches led to firings, prosecutions, or prison sentences, other agencies allowed officers to continue using the technology even after receiving warnings of misuse. Privacy advocates argue that simple changes, like mandating the inclusion of criminal case numbers in searches, could deter bad actors. However, policing experts warn that inconsistencies in policing departments' rules and enforcement of license-plate reader standards may lead to further misconduct.

With no federal laws governing their use, and only a patchwork of state laws, roughly 18,000 police agencies nationwide are left to decide their own rules. Flock's CEO, Garrett Langley, dismissed calls for stricter regulations, stating that his company is not responsible for policing police.