‘Have I Been Flocked?’ Tool Launched as Flock Unveils New Privacy Rules

A new online tool called "Have I Been Flocked?" is now available, enabling vehicle owners to check if their license plate has been searched within Flock Safety's extensive nationwide network of surveillance cameras. This launch coincides with the company unveiling fresh privacy and accountability measures in reaction to mounting public concerns over the technology.

The platform's operators provide users with the ability to input a license plate number and search a database of publicly obtained Flock audit logs, which currently contain data from over 241 million searches. The Flock Safety platform leverages more than 120,000 cameras and connected devices to capture vehicle images and identify license plates and vehicle details via AI.

Law enforcement agencies worldwide utilize this stored data in a searchable database. However, the "Have I Been Flocked?" tool's database only includes publicly released audit logs, offering a partial view of the platform's search activities. The site's FAQ clarifies that a search does not automatically imply that the vehicle owner was stopped, investigated, or suspected of wrongdoing, as search policies differ across jurisdictions.

Individuals can save screenshots of search results, including timestamps, agency information, and case identifiers. These publicly accessible logs may evolve as additional records are disclosed. The tool's operators emphasize that the data originates from Flock audit logs obtained via public records requests and transparency portals, indicating potential for further details from the agency conducting the search.

Privacy advocates have voiced concerns about potential misuse of license plate reader systems by individual officers in recent years. If a search seems improper, individuals can file a complaint with an agency's Internal Affairs division, a state attorney general's office, or civil liberties organizations like the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Flock Safety's recent reforms aim to address these concerns by reducing the default retention period for ALPR data from 30 days to seven days. They are introducing an "Evidence Mode" feature that preserves data tied to active investigations when necessary and require law enforcement customers to use their Audit Assistance tool, which flags potentially abnormal search activity.

If an officer's activity meets specific criteria, they may face automatic lockout pending review. Moreover, officers will need to provide a case code before conducting searches, enhancing the audit trail. Flock Safety is also adding controls to allow agencies to determine the permissible uses of camera data by other departments, including the option to block immigration-related searches.

While these tools provide insights into the use of license plate reader systems, the ongoing debate surrounding privacy, accountability, and public safety technology continues.