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Alarming Findings: How Police Are Misusing Flock Safety ALPR System

A recent analysis by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) on ALPR search logs from the Flock Safety system has uncovered troubling misuse by police officers. The logs reveal that officers are conducting searches without valid reasons, undermining civil liberties by accessing sensitive location data for frivolous motives such as ‘LOL,’ ‘LMAO,’ ‘sexy,’ and ‘idk’.

EFF highlights that Flock Safety’s recent system update lacks accountability, allowing officers to choose reasons for searches without verifying their legitimacy.

Boston’s Stance on Surveillance

Amidst these revelations, Boston has opted to rely on license plate cameras instead of Flock. Mayor Wu emphasizes the importance of implementing transparent policies to safeguard privacy and civil liberties while utilizing technology for public safety and crime-solving.

Notably, Boston mandates that vendors must adhere to strict guidelines regarding the sharing and retention of license plate reader data.

Moving forward, Mayor Wu stresses the need for responsible use of surveillance technology, emphasizing the importance of robust access controls to prevent misuse.

Despite some cities phasing out Flock due to surveillance concerns, Flock Safety remains optimistic about new partnerships in 2026. We have reached out to Flock for their response to the City of Boston’s report and will update accordingly.

Source: arstechnica.com