The fight over Flock and other ALPRs

Over 120,000 automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, developed by Flock, have been installed across the United States. These cameras employ artificial intelligence to identify and track vehicles based on their license plate number, make, model, color, and additional information. The network of these cameras enables tracking of vehicles and people's movements throughout the day and across the country.

Numerous communities have canceled contracts for Flock's cameras or shut them down following calls for more regulations on the data they collect, who has access to it, and how it can be utilized in the future. Los Angeles is among the communities that have taken such actions. Amazon's Ring, a rival company, recently cancelled its partnership with Flock due to online backlash.

Flock CEO acknowledged that they made a mistake with Flock cameras, stating, "We got this one wrong." The LAPD has temporarily suspended its use of Flock's license plate readers. This situation raises concerns about the implications of AI policing in the future.

Flock's cameras are seen as a potential threat to privacy, as they allow anyone with a web browser to access the camera feeds. The breakup between Ring and Flock does not resolve Ring's underlying issue with surveillance. Flock has paused further exploration of a potential partnership with Ring, while Ring has cancelled its partnership with Flock in response to public backlash.

Despite the cancellation, Flock's AI camera feeds were already accessible to the public. It is worth noting that overseas AI annotators may be reviewing Flock's license plate camera footage from the United States.