Amid public backlash, surveillance tech company Flock announces platform changes
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Flock Safety, the surveillance technology company increasingly under scrutiny from lawmakers, civil liberties advocates and citizens across the U.S., announced Thursday it is making changes to its platform intended to quell…
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Automated license plate reader provider Flock Safety announced Thursday it will be implementing changes to its platform in response to privacy concerns and documented abuses by law enforcement. The company, one of the largest providers of automated license plate readers in the nation, saw several cities and agencies sever ties due to fears that data could be used for immigration enforcement or unauthorized surveillance.
In an interview, CEO Garrett Langley said the new measures aim to increase accountability and will require law enforcement customers to implement an audit tool flagging abnormal search behavior by Jan. 1. The system will lock users out pending an internal review if abnormal behavior is detected. Data retention will be reduced from 30 days to seven days, with longer retention allowed for evidence linked to a case number.
Users must enter a code from their records management system to tie each search to a specific case before it is run. Overrides for emergencies will be automatically flagged for review.
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