Flock unveils changes after Post report on police misuse of vast camera network

The license-plate-reader firm said it will require stricter oversight after a Washington Post investigation found dozens of officers had misused its cameras to spy on their exes and romantic interests.

Flock Safety tries to curb police abuse of its surveillance cameras after scandals

CEO announces steps after reports that system is used to target immigrants or people seeking out-of-state abortions

The GuardianJohana Bhuiyan

CEO announces steps after reports that system is used to target immigrants or people seeking out-of-state abortions

Surveillance company Flock moves to increase oversight after police misuse

The company is also changing how long it stores people’s movement data by default.

NBC NewsKevin Collier

The changes that Flock outlined include shrinking the period for how long it holds people’s movement data by default, going from one month to one week, the company said in a news release. In cases where an officer wants to hold data longer, they will be prompted to enter a case number. ¶To address potential police abuse of Flock’s data on people, the company also plans to fully deploy a system it began testing earlier this year, called Audit Assistance, that will lock out a user whose searches display “abnormal activity,” the release said. ¶A spokesperson told NBC News that the changes are meant to help address privacy concerns and to stem officer abuse of the cameras, which have prompted some cities to cancel their Flock contracts amid a national wave of vandalism against them. But the American Civil Liberties Union, a long-standing Flock critic, downplayed the new changes as minor.

Flock camera scandals prompt company to make changes

A slew of high-profile cases allege that police have misused the controversial system used to track vehicle locations. A new update aims to crack down.

USA TODAYJeanine Santucci

As law enforcement agencies across the nation continue to use controversial license plate readers, a leading company behind the tech says a new update aims to crack down on police officers who misuse the data. ¶Flock Safety announced the news on Thursday, Aug. 13, after a slew of high-profile cases that allege misuse of the system, such as police officers running searches not tied to law enforcement investigations, including to stalk or harass someone.

Flock is just the latest example of using surveillance to stalk women

Flock Safety claims over 5,000 law enforcement agencies use its license plate readers to help locate missing persons, catch thieves and identify suspicious vehicles. … But there’s been another persistent, unsanctioned use: officers stalking women. ¶At least 50 law enforcement officers have been accused or charged with the misuse of Flock or similar tools, and over half of the incidents involve surveillance related to romantic partners, per a recent investigation by The Washington Post. The reports include officers of all genders, but many cases involve a uniformed man stalking a civilian woman — or the people close to her. Forty-six of the cases tallied by The Post involved Flock equipment.

New Database Documents Over 100 Cases of Cops Abusing Flock Surveillance Cameras | Common Dreams

Police have used Flock cameras to stalk their exes, track abortion patients, and spy on protesters—among other abuses.

Common Dreamsbrett-wilkins

That is a strange and alarming capability of some women to have sexual relationships with no empathy whatsoever for their male partners. But on the other hand, the average dude having sex is a total cad getting exactly what he wants from the female and dumping her with no strings attached. As to lack of empathy. Dating or eating out at restaurants under police surveillance, no thank you.

Flock tries to make its cameras harder for cops to misuse - Engadget

Flock tries to make its cameras harder for cops to misuse.

EngadgetLawrence Bonk

Pity us poor consumers and subjects of the police state.