Have you been Flocked? This website lets you find out
Have I Been Flocked? lets drivers check public records to see whether someone searched their license plate through Flock.
Flock Safety's surveillance network has drawn criticism from communities as they cancel contracts and activists map hidden devices. Now, drivers can check if their license plate appears in Flock's searchable records through Have I Been Flocked? This website, part of an independent surveillance project, lets users enter their license plate number to see if it matches any searches conducted through Flock's system.
As of August 17, nearly 242 million searches involving over 4.6 million plates had been compiled. The need for transparency is evident, as a Washington Post investigation revealed over 50 law enforcement officers charged or accused of misusing license plate readers, including stalking women. The website won't reveal all that Flock knows about a particular car, but it provides the license plate, when it was searched, the agency involved, the operator, and the stated reason.
These results are often incomplete and may be incomplete or delayed. While a match means a search was conducted, it doesn't necessarily imply an investigation. Not every Flock user is a law enforcement officer; private organizations also use the technology. Users are advised to file public records requests if they find concerning results and consult an attorney if they believe their surveillance rights have been violated.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.