Too Little, Too Late: Flock Admits Their Technology Needs Reforms

Flock Safety, the company behind mass surveillance technology, has introduced a series of reforms in response to public outrage over their automated license plate readers (ALPRs). These reforms, while a step in the right direction, fall short of addressing the core issues with this technology. Among the most significant changes is Flock’s reduction of the default ALPR data retention period from 30 days to 7 days.

However, if law enforcement wants to retain data beyond this period, they would need to activate "Evidence Mode," potentially incurring additional costs. The company also introduced offense filtering, allowing cities to limit ALPR data access to specific investigations like murder or robbery, and enhanced audit and transparency tools.

However, these measures primarily tackle symptoms of a broader problem – an invasive surveillance system that continuously tracks all vehicles. Flock’s CEO, Garrett Langley, has adopted a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging the dangers of surveillance and agreeing with organizations like the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation regarding warrant requirements for accessing historic ALPR data.

Despite these reforms, the company's ability to revert to previous practices remains uncertain without stronger legal measures. The core issue remains: privacy should not be a matter for companies to decide. Lawmakers must step in to regulate police use of surveillance technology, rather than leaving it up to private vendors.