Flock cuts license-plate data retention to 7 days as CEO denies Big Brother role
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Flock is cutting default license plate data retention from 30 days to 7 days and making its Audit Assistance tool mandatory across a network of 120,000 license plate readers used by 6,000 law enforcement agencies. CEO Garrett Langley told Bloomberg “we’re not Big Brother” and told CNN he is sorry the system has failed people. The changes follow documented misuse of Flock readers to track protesters and women seeking abortions.
New Retention Limits
Flock is cutting default license plate data retention from 30 days to 7 days. The company’s Audit Assistance tool, designed to flag abnormal activity, becomes mandatory rather than optional, and accounts tied to such activity will be automatically suspended. Law enforcement searches will require specific case codes, and Flock says it is upgrading data security protocols while simplifying privacy policies.
Documented Misuse
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has shown that Flock cameras were previously used to track protesters and women seeking abortions. Police officers have also used the readers to stalk people they had been in relationships with. Flock operates 120,000 license plate readers across 6,000 law enforcement agencies.
Public Countermeasures
Reports of Flock cameras being smashed or disabled have increased as residents object to automatic plate scanning beyond crime prevention. A hobbyist has designed a 3D-printed “Flock Sock” cover that blocks a reader from recording. Around 1,000 private companies, including FedEx, use Flock readers, and the company is expanding into drones for first responders. CEO Garrett Langley told Bloomberg “we’re not Big Brother” and told CNN he is sorry the system has failed people.
What's Next
Flock has not said when the 7-day retention default and mandatory Audit Assistance tool will take effect across all 120,000 license plate readers. It remains unclear whether the new guardrails will satisfy privacy groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation or reduce physical damage to cameras.
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Flock cuts license-plate data retention to 7 days as CEO denies Big Brother role
