{
  "id": 1534683,
  "title": "Has your license plate been tracked by Flock? Here's how to check.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/has-your-license-plate-been-tracked-by-flock-heres-how-to-check",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-17T18:17:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flock-license-plate-tracking-search-check/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new website called HaveIBeenFlocked.com allows the public to check if their license plate information has been searched within Flock Safety's nationwide system of cameras. The site claims to use data from audit logs of searches made on Flock's system, which include over 4.6 million license plate records from roughly 242 million searches. However, the website does not store or log the license plate numbers or search terms entered by users. It only discards the data after providing the search result. The site is an independent project funded by the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation, aiming to operate as a nonprofit in the long run.\n\nWhile HaveIBeenFlocked provides some answers to privacy concerns, it has limitations. The data is not real-time, and there can be delays between when a search occurs and when it appears on the website. The database is also incomplete, with limited access to audit logs and possible redactions. HaveIBeenFlocked aggregates the logs from public records requests and transparency portals where local governments sometimes post the information.\n\nFlock Safety's network of cameras captures license plates and vehicle information, which it provides to its customers, including law enforcement agencies. Police use the system to track suspects, stolen cars, and missing people. However, Flock has faced criticism for alleged misuse of the technology. Recently, 46 officers have been charged or accused of misusing Flock's camera system, sometimes to stalk women. Flock's CEO, Garrett Langley, apologized and announced changes to prevent misuse of data obtained from Flock cameras. He emphasized that the company does not track cellphones or use facial recognition, addressing misinformation about what Flock tracks.",
  "summary": "The website HaveIBeenFlocked has compiled a database of 4.6 million license plate records that have appeared in roughly 242 million Flock searches.",
  "key_points": [
    "HaveIBeenFlocked.com lets public check if license plate searched in Flock's system.",
    "Website uses data from audit logs of Flock's 242 million searches, not storing user info.",
    "Flock's cameras track license plates for law enforcement, but system has misuse allegations."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}