Flock's AI search tool for police officers has been reverse engineered — here's what it shows
Wired has managed to uncover some of the details about how search works for police officers using Flock.
Flock, an AI-powered search tool for police officers, has been reverse engineered by reporters from Wired. The system includes search tools for vehicle types, colors, and features, as well as a freeform query option for any object within the video frame. The tool also features an AI-powered watch list option for continuous surveillance of a specific description.
Despite warnings about potential AI mistakes, there is no reliable way for officers to verify the accuracy of the information provided. However, officers can rank search results based on relevance and accuracy, with this feedback used to refine the results page. Some search terms are restricted, particularly those related to race, ethnicity, and religion. Before accessing the software, officers must agree to use the tool responsibly and not for illegal or harmful purposes.
Flock's software is equipped with blocks on certain search terms and records all queries and metadata for security and auditing purposes. While the company is responding to concerns over potential misuse, it still needs to demonstrate that its systems are being used solely for legitimate purposes.
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