Legislators in California and at the federal level are debating whether to impose limits on automated license plate reader technology, which has proven effective in helping police solve crimes including murders, bank robberies, and hit-and-runs, but raises privacy concerns.
The rapid expansion of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras across Texas, including over 650 cameras in Dallas, has triggered privacy concerns and prompted Congressman Keith Self to propose the "Privacy Act" even as police defend the technology for solving crimes.
An internal police analysis from Roseville, California found that Flock Safety's AI-powered license plate recognition cameras misread license plates in 71% of alerts sent to police across 2023 and 2024, with seven out of ten stolen vehicle alerts being incorrect.
Law enforcement officers in at least 12 states, including at least 20 in Georgia alone, have been arrested or investigated for allegedly misusing Flock Safety's automated license plate reader database. Cases include a Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer accused of providing surveillance data to a drug investigation target and a Habersham County deputy who was arrested and fired.
A growing number of activists are physically disabling Flock Safety's automated license plate reader cameras across the US, citing privacy concerns. The vandalism campaign has become so widespread that Flock is now disguising its surveillance devices inside other objects to avoid detection.
The Los Angeles Police Department has paused its use of Flock Safety's license plate surveillance cameras due to privacy concerns, particularly regarding federal and national agencies' access to the company's data.
