Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Right to repair

2026-06-10T02:43:24Z

Neige: Article creation idea

'''[[wikipedia:Right_to_repair#cite_note-:3-10|Right to repair]]''' is a legal right for owners of devices and equipment to freely modify and repair products such as automobiles, electronics, and farm equipment. Right to repair may also refer to the social movement of citizens putting pressure on their governments to enact laws protecting a right to repair.

There are several forces that result in interference with a right to repair, some intentional and some incidental. The motivations for interference in a right to repair are sometimes but not limited to direct financial benefit or market control.

==Key principles==
The [https://www.repair.org/ Digital Right to Repair Coalition], an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for right to repair legislation, has outlined the essential components of such laws:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Working Together to Make Repair-Friendly Public Policy |url=https://www.repair.org/legislation |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=repair.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211030739/https://www.repair.org/legislation |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref><blockquote>
#'''Access to Diagnostic Tools''': The right for consumers and independent repair shops to access the same diagnostic and repair tools that are available to the original manufacturer.
#'''Replacement Parts''': Ensuring that consumers can purchase genuine replacement parts at fair market prices, either directly from the manufacturer or through third-party vendors.
#'''Software and Firmware''': Granting the ability to bypass software locks that prevent repairs, as long as it doesn't infringe upon proprietary software or intellectual property rights.
#'''Documentation''': Providing comprehensive repair manuals, schematics, and other documentation to facilitate effective repairs.
#'''Anti-Retaliation''': Protection against voiding warranties or other retaliatory measures from manufacturers when consumers or independent shops perform repairs.
#'''Contracts''': Addressing the role of unfair and deceptive contracts like EULAs that are non-negotiable and alter the intent of the purchase. The legislative focus is on combating the abusive nature of these contracts rather than the technology itself.
#'''Exemptions''': Understanding that certain industries or product categories, like motor vehicles, may be exempt due to existing agreements or laws. These exemptions can inadvertently create repair monopolies and should be carefully considered.
#'''Enforcement''': Utilizing the power of the state Attorney General for law enforcement and issuing fines as incentives for state-led compliance. Alternative enforcement mechanisms can also be considered.

In states that have enacted Right to Repair laws, the legislation often involves a multi-faceted approach. It's not just about passing the law; it also includes implementing an enforcement mechanism, engaging with manufacturers for compliance, and educating consumers and repair shops about their rights and responsibilities.</blockquote>

==Industries affected by anti-repair practices==

#'''Agricultural equipment:''' Farmers face significant challenges due to restrictive practices by manufacturers like [[John Deere]], which locks vital repair tools and software behind proprietary systems. While John Deere previously agreed to provide access to repair tools by 2021, it has largely failed to uphold this promise, forcing many farmers to turn to unofficial software just to perform basic repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Sarah |date=14 Feb 2014 |title=Right to Repair Farm Equipment: Legislation, Challenges, and Advantages |url=https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/right-to-repair-farm-equipment/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2014 |website=Thomas |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251025091833/https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/right-to-repair-farm-equipment/ |archive-date=25 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Kevin |date=5 Feb 2021 |title=Deere in the Headlights How software that farmers can't access has become necessary to tractor repair |url=https://pirg.org/resources/deere-in-the-headlights-3/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=pirg.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251102152804/https://pirg.org/resources/deere-in-the-headlights-3/ |archive-date=2 Nov 2025}}</ref> Industry groups argue that allowing such access could bypass emissions and safety controls, but this leaves farmers financially dependent on dealers for critical repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hruska |first=Joel |date=23 Feb 2021 |title=John Deere Fails to Uphold Right to Repair Agreement Signed in 2018 |url=https://www.extremetech.com/electronics/320183-john-deere-fails-to-uphold-right-to-repair-agreement-signed-in-2018 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Extreme Tech |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250930030704/https://www.extremetech.com/electronics/320183-john-deere-fails-to-uphold-right-to-repair-agreement-signed-in-2018 |archive-date=30 Sep 2025}}</ref>
#'''Consumer electronics:''' Companies are implementing restrictive measures, like serialization and pairing of parts, which prevent the use of third-party components.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 Nov 2021 |title=Manufacturers Are Restricting Your Repair Options. Here’s How. |url=https://www.carrepairchoice.org/manufacturers-are-restricting-your-repair-options-heres-how/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Car Repair Choice |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260103065347/https://www.carrepairchoice.org/manufacturers-are-restricting-your-repair-options-heres-how/ |archive-date=3 Jan 2026}}</ref> This practice raises repair costs and limits options for consumers, reinforcing a disposable culture in electronics.
#[[Medical equipment|'''Medical equipment''']]''':''' Hospitals and healthcare providers encounter repair restrictions that delay the maintenance of critical devices. Limited access to diagnostics and proprietary parts exacerbates costs and impacts patient care, with some hospital technicians calling for legislative action to improve repairability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wray |first=George |last2=Vanderveer |first2=Erin |date=18 Apr 2024 |title=Fixing Circles: The Right to Repair and the Circular Economy |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/journal/2024-spring/fixing-circles-right-repair-circular-economy/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=American Bar |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260104045556/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/journal/2024-spring/fixing-circles-right-repair-circular-economy/ |archive-date=4 Jan 2026}}</ref>
#'''Home appliances:''' Many household devices, such as refrigerators and washing machines, are increasingly difficult to repair because of proprietary parts and software locks. Advocates argue that this trend contributes to unnecessary e-waste and financial strain on households.{{CitationNeeded}}
#'''Automobiles:''' The automotive industry has historically restricted repairs by limiting access to diagnostic tools and proprietary systems. Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law has been a key legislative victory, enabling consumers and independent mechanics to access the tools needed for vehicle repairs.{{CitationNeeded}}
#'''Millitary''':

==Anti-repair practices==
Practices by companies and organizations that result in interference with right to repair often have other stated goals than to interfere with repair, or argue the importance of that goal supersedes any repair considerations that may be interfered with. Common stated goals used in the examples of this wiki are for security, to make warranty possible, to indemnify, safety, compliance with other regulation, or quality control. Right to repair advocacy seeks to challenge the validity of the stated goals, both on its merit and on its truthfulness as the motivation for the practice, due to the resulting interference with a consumer's right to repair. These goals are argued to be a mask for other outcomes that are meant to benefit that organization in other ways, often for financial benefit by limiting access to repair resources that result in higher costs to the consumer and fewer choices in repair options.

===Parts===

====Access to tools and parts====
Many manufacturers restrict access to parts and tools, making them only available to their own dealers’ repair shops. This practice locks independent shops out of repairs and enables manufacturers to set artificially high prices. Most manufacturers don’t publish the related instructions, already created for their internal use. Withholding repair documentation makes DIY repairs more difficult and more dangerous.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restricting Access to Parts, Tools, and Documentation |url=https://www.repair.org/restricting-access |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=repair.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216035458/https://www.repair.org/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> In some cases, repair isn't even an option, leaving consumers to purchase another device.

====Blocking and locking third party parts====
Some manufacturers are actively blocking third party parts from being used in repairs in different ways:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blocking and Locking Third-Party Parts |url=https://www.repair.org/parts |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=repair.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231065236/https://www.repair.org/parts |archive-date=31 Dec 2025}}</ref>

*'''Persistent Alerts''': Discouraging third party parts by showing intrusive “unable to verify” warnings, making users feel like their device is compromised. A notable example are [[Apple]] practices with third party battery and screen replacements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About iPhone Parts and Service History |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102658?cid=mc-ols-iphone_rear_system-article_ht212878-ios_ui-06012022 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[Apple]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260103065608/https://support.apple.com/en-us/102658?cid=mc-ols-iphone_rear_system-article_ht212878-ios_ui-06012022 |archive-date=3 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*'''Software Lockouts''': Replacing a part will result in an error message that can only be cleared with manufacturer's exclusive software. For example, this happens in [[John Deere]] tractors.

====Pairing parts to the motherboard<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Pairing Parts to the Motherboard |url=https://www.repair.org/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=repair.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216035458/https://www.repair.org/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>====
One way of deterring repairs is to match components to the motherboard of the device. Replacing one faulty part with another will not be welcomed by the central board. Replacing the faulty part is possible only if one finds a matched part for a new central board, increasing the cost and complexity of repair. [[Apple authorized service provider program|Apple's Self Repair initiative]] ties parts to a serial number of a device, preventing independent repair and end-of-life refurbishment in a significant way. Manufacturers generally can re-code those parts for new ones. Software pairing for that purpose is used by their own authorized repair facilities.

====Engineering parts to prevent replacements====
Manufacturers often use specialized parts in different ways:

*An off the shelf part that has had a slight change that causes it to be its own unique part number
*A part that isn't used in any other device
*A specialty part with no function of its own other than codependency with another part that is necessary and could technically function without it.

In the case of a company making their own unique part number, this causes the part to be exclusively offered to the company that 'created' it and unavailable for 3rd-party repairs. This now makes the company the exclusive repairer of the device and they can charge whatever they want, or the device is unrepairable since the company doesn't repair that device and the part can't be readily sourced.

In the case of parts that aren't used in other devices, this can cause repair prices to shoot up, since there isn't an incentive for repair shops to have this part readily available. Using phones as an example, Phone A and Phone B are both from the same manufacturer, and are physically indistinguishable. However, on the inside Phone A uses a completely different screen connection than Phone B, and Phone B has a completely different battery shape than Phone A. The parts are no longer [[Interchangeable parts|interchangeable]] between the phones, and more parts need to be stocked as a result. As well, the repair shop takes a risk on keeping a stock of parts that may or may not sell because they are exclusive to a certain phone. This can also lead to people not wanting to have their phone repaired, since they will be without their phone for a week or two while the shop waits for a part to ship.

====Designing unrepairable products<ref>{{Cite web |title=Designing Unrepairable Products |url=https://www.repair.org/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=repair.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216035458/https://www.repair.org/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>====
Manufacturers often make design choices that precludes or discourages repair. They have proprietary screw heads, so that they need special tools to use. Batteries are epoxied in with industrial-strength adhesive, so regular maintenance is more complicated than it should be. Pieces are soldered into clunky assemblies, so you must replace, e.g., an entire top case to replace a single key on a keyboard.

===Use of "warranty void if removed" stickers===
These stickers, commonly found on electronic devices and appliances, are intended to prevent consumers from tampering with products, often in relation to repairs or modifications. However, their use has raised concerns about whether they unfairly limit consumer rights, particularly their right to repair, and circumvent warranties.

Under U.S. consumer protection law, particularly the {{wplink|Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act}}, manufacturers are prohibited from voiding warranties solely due to the removal of labels, including "warranty void if removed" stickers. Companies cannot require consumers to use specific parts or services to keep warranties unless offered for free or cleared by the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]]. Offenders will be enforced by law if they fail to comply within 30 days. This shields consumers from exorbitant fees and enables small businesses to provide competitive products.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Lulu |date=11 Apr 2018 |title=Those ‘warranty void if removed’ stickers are illegal, says the FTC |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/ftc-warranty-stickers-illegal/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=digitaltrends |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251025104206/https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/ftc-warranty-stickers-illegal/ |archive-date=25 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Apr 2018 |title=FTC Staff Warns Companies that It Is Illegal to Condition Warranty Coverage on the Use of Specified Parts or Services |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-staff-warns-companies-it-illegal-condition-warranty-coverage-use-specified-parts-or-services |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[FTC]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260102130944/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-staff-warns-companies-it-illegal-condition-warranty-coverage-use-specified-parts-or-services |archive-date=2 Jan 2026}}</ref> This rule aims to ensure that consumers have the right to repair or modify products without fear of losing warranty coverage. Despite this, many manufacturers continue to use such stickers, and some place them over screws or other components necessary for standard use, leading to potential issues with warranty claims.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Jul 2024 |title=FTC Warns Companies to Stop Warranty Practices That Harm Consumers’ Right to Repair |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/07/ftc-warns-companies-stop-warranty-practices-harm-consumers-right-repair |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[FTC]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260105064653/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/07/ftc-warns-companies-stop-warranty-practices-harm-consumers-right-repair |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Edser |first=Andy |date=4 Jul 2024 |title=FTC fires out warnings to ASRock, Gigabyte and Zotac over 'Warranty void if removed' stickers in violation of US law |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/ftc-fires-out-warnings-to-asrock-gigabyte-and-zotac-over-warranty-void-if-removed-stickers-in-violation-of-us-law/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=PCGamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209233419/https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/ftc-fires-out-warnings-to-asrock-gigabyte-and-zotac-over-warranty-void-if-removed-stickers-in-violation-of-us-law/ |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref>

===Software===

Some ways that companies can and (some) have been making software worse for consumers is among the following:

*Requiring a subscription for software which doesn't need constant updates or cloud content to function
*Introducing proprietary protocols or file types without any innovation or real addition of features (for instance, if a company introduces a word processor which doesn't have any more features than a standard .odt or .docx file, then there likely isn't a real reason for it to use its own proprietary format).
*Not providing troubleshooting or issue workaround information on reasonable terms (for instance, requiring an absurd amount of money and/or technical certificates for said information is beyond what would be reasonable)
*Making software needlessly dependent on cloud infrastructure
*Regressing features and usability for unnecessary reasons

These can interfere with daily lives and the ability of professionals to rectify any software issues. For instance, a company charging an absurd amount of money for information on the location of one checkbox in one of their settings dialog can lead to a professional spending an extra hour or two to locate the dialog and the specific checkbox.

Proprietary filetypes and protocols can make hardware useless if the company who made it closes their business without disclosing the software, protocol, or filetype to the public or surviving entity before doing so.

==Why anti-repair practices are a problem==

#'''Economic and environmental costs:''' Repair restrictions force consumers to pay excessive fees or replace entire products, contributing to financial burdens and increased e-waste.
#'''Undermining consumer rights''': These practices challenge the basic principle of ownership. By limiting access to tools, parts, and repair guides, manufacturers erode consumers' ability to service the products they own.
#'''Cultural shift toward disposability''': Restrictive repair policies foster a disposable culture, where repairing a product is no longer an option, and purchasing new items becomes the default solution.

==Self-repair programs==
In response to the passage of Right to Repair legislation,<ref name=":0" /> many companies have introduced their own self-repair programs. While these programs are marketed as initiatives to expand repair options, they often come with significant limitations. Below is a list of such companies, along with their related articles:

*'''[[Samsung self-repair program restrictions]]'''
*[[Apple authorized service provider program|'''Apple authorized service provider program''']]
*'''[[Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair]]'''

==What can be done==
To address the challenges of Right to Repair, consumers and lawmakers must act:

#'''Support legislation:''' Policies like Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law and the FAIR Act are essential for securing repair rights across industries.{{CitationNeeded}}
#'''Raise awareness''': Educating the public about the implications of repair restrictions can help build momentum for change.
#'''Choose repairable products:''' Supporting manufacturers that prioritize repairability can encourage better practices across industries.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Positive practices]]
[[Category:Right to repair]]

Excessive data collection by cars

2026-06-06T12:20:43Z

Neige: Subaru Starlink

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Article needs overhaul to be substantial theme article or list article}}{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Suzuki, Hyundai
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Suzuki Vitara, Hyundai Santa Fe
|Product=Car
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service, Privacy
|Description=Car is forcing you to agree to spying on you by locking you out of some features.
}}
Car producers are forcing drivers to agree to invasive spying by locking them out of some car features until they comply.

==Background==
New cars with "smart" panels are forcing drivers to agree every time they start their car to sharing their information. If driver do not click Agree button panel is not usable, locking driver out of some features of car. There is no other option than to agree.

[[File:Suzuki Vitara forced agreement to spying.jpg|alt=Suzuki Vitara forced spying agreement|thumb|This is translation from Czech to English: "Do not use the unit while driving. The driver is always responsible for complying with traffic laws. There are connected services. Information about the vehicle, for example its location, is shared with Suzuki."]]

[[File:Hyundai.jpg|alt=Hyundai forced spying agreement|thumb|[[Hyundai]] forcing driver to agree to spying on them by locking some features of the car.Link in the message: [https://hyundaiusa.com/owner-privacy-policy.aspx hyundaiusa.com/owner-privacy-policy.aspx]]]
==Consumer response==

*Drivers in EU have right to request the data car producers collected on them.

*Car-savvy drivers have also taken to removing telemetry fuses and modules and either replacing them with aftermarket parts or keeping them disabled completely.

*Privacy-minded individuals do not use Apple Carplay or Android Auto as the phone and the car communicate amongst themselves sharing data and allowing the modern car to access the phone’s files (if proper protections are not set).

== See Also ==

* [[Subaru Starlink]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Automotive privacy]]
[[Category:Automotive security]]

Stellantis in-car advertisements

2026-06-06T12:17:28Z

Neige:

{{StubNotice}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Stellantis
|StartDate=2024-02-07
|EndDate=
|Status=
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=
|Type=Advertising
|Description=
}}
On February 7th, 2024, TechStory.in reported that [[Jeep]] 4xe owners are now seeing full screen pop-up advertisements on the displays of their vehicle's infotainment systems.<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304102847/https://techstory.in/stellantis-introduces-pop-up-ads-in-vehicles-sparking-outrage-among-owners/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2025-03-04|url=https://techstory.in/stellantis-introduces-pop-up-ads-in-vehicles-sparking-outrage-among-owners/|title=Stellantis Introduces Pop-Up Ads in Vehicles, Sparking Outrage Among Owners|first=Samir|last=Gautam|date=2025-02-07|work=TechStory.in}}</ref>

==Background==
The controversy surrounding [[Stellantis]]' infotainment advertisements is part of a larger trend in the automotive industry, where manufacturers have been experimenting with subscription-based features and monetization of vehicle services. Stellantis' decision to integrate advertisements into vehicle interfaces has reignited debates over consumer rights and ownership expectations.

==Incident==
[[File:Jeep-ads-reddit.jpeg|thumb|Jeep puts an ad covering entire screen<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-05 |title=Jeep puts an ad covering my entire screen, and it comes back every time you stop even if you hit ok. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/1iij34r/jeep_puts_an_ad_covering_my_entire_screen_and_it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206075610/https://old.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/1iij34r/jeep_puts_an_ad_covering_my_entire_screen_and_it/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2025 |access-date=6 June 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>]]
Stellantis, has come under scrutiny following the introduction of full-screen pop-up advertisements on its in-vehicle infotainment systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McFall |first=Marni Rose |date=2025-03-14 |title=Dodge Drivers Furious After Unwanted Ads Pop Up in Their Cars |url=https://www.newsweek.com/stellantis-dodge-car-drivers-adverts-pop-ups-2045033 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314190927/https://www.newsweek.com/stellantis-dodge-car-drivers-adverts-pop-ups-2045033 |archive-date=14 Mar 2025 |website=News Week}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Esther |first=Anochie |date=2015-02-11 |title=Jeep Introduces Pop-Up Ads That Appear Every Time You Stop |url=https://techstory.in/jeep-introduces-pop-up-ads-that-appear-every-time-you-stop/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214081830/https://techstory.in/jeep-introduces-pop-up-ads-that-appear-every-time-you-stop/ |archive-date=14 Feb 2025 |website=Tech Story}}</ref> This feature, has been met with widespread criticism, disrupts driver experience by displaying ads whenever the vehicle comes to a stop.

Reports indicate that the cars infotainment system will be overridden with a whole of screen advertisement for Mopar’s extended warranty services. These ads require manual dismissal before users can resume normal system operation, such as checking GPS navigation or adjusting media settings. Initially affected vehicles appeared to be Jeeps, however reports in March state that Dodge is also effected.

Users are unable to opt out of the advertising and there is not ability to prevent them from appearing.

===Stellantis' response===

Stellantis, through its "JeepCares" representative, acknowledged the implementation of these ads, citing an agreement with [[SiriusXM]]. The company suggested that users simply dismiss the ads by tapping the provided close button. However, concerns remain regarding the forced nature of these interruptions and their frequency.

== See Also ==

* [[Subaru Starlink]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Stellantis]]
[[Category:Jeep]]

SiriusXM

2026-06-06T12:04:44Z

Neige:

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American broadcasting company providing online and satellite radio services.
|Founded=1990
|Industry=Broadcasting, Entertainment
|Logo=SiriusXM.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://siriusxm.com
}}
'''[[wikipedia:SiriusXM|SiriusXM]]''' (also known as '''SiriusXM Holdings''') is a radio streaming service founded in 1990 by David Margolese<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/author/david-margolese|title=David Margolease|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241103070437/https://www.jpost.com/author/david-margolese|archive-date=2024-11-03|url-status=live}}</ref> and Martine Rothblatt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/martine-rothblatt/|title=Martine Rothblatt|work=Forbes|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114181358/https://www.forbes.com/profile/martine-rothblatt/|archive-date=2025-01-14|url-status=live}}</ref> The company went public on September 13, 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investor.siriusxm.com/company-information/faq|title=FAQ|work=SiriusXM Investor|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214111258/https://investor.siriusxm.com/company-information/faq|archive-date=2025-02-14|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
====Freedom====
Users are allowed to delete their SiriusXM account and manage their subscriptions on the website. The mobile application allows users to log out of every device, though asks users to go to the website for all account management tasks. Users can make two data requests a year and one data deletion request.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siriusxm.com/help/privacy-rights|title=Frequently Asked Questions About Your Privacy Rights|work=SiriusXM|access-date=2025-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308222228/https://www.siriusxm.com/help/privacy-rights|archive-date=2025-03-08|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Privacy====
According to the privacy policy, SiriusXM shares user data with business partners, other subsidiaries, and advertising agencies, with that data including "1. Registration Data, 2. Vehicle Data, 3. Payment Data, 4. Sensitive Personal Data, 5. Other Demographic Data, 6. Transaction Information, 7. Listening Preferences, 8. Account Information and Settings, 9. Device Data, 10. Audio and Visual Data, and 11. Geolocation Data".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siriusxm.com/privacy-policy|title=Privacy Policy|work=SiriusXM|date=2024-12-20|access-date=2025-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321010249/https://www.siriusxm.com/privacy-policy|archive-date=2025-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Business model====
SiriusXM relies on monthly subscriptions on its users, with the current prices being $24.98 for the "All Access" and $9.99 for the "Build a plan".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siriusxm.com/plans|title=Packages, Plans & Price|work=SiriusXM|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311162527/https://www.siriusxm.com/plans|archive-date=2025-03-11|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Market control====
SiriusXM is available by default in most modern car stereo systems, with 90% of subscribers having the service embedded in their cars as of December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investor.siriusxm.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/2129/siriusxm-provides-update-on-strategic-direction-sharpening|title=SiriusXM Provides Update on Strategic Direction, Sharpening Focus on Core Audience|date=2024-12-10|work=SiriusXM Investors|access-date=2025-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250323003209/https://investor.siriusxm.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/2129/siriusxm-provides-update-on-strategic-direction-sharpening|archive-date=2025-03-23|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Lifetime licenses ('''2019''')===
In 2019, a lawsuit was filed alleging the lifetime memberships that costed $357-$755 should be good for the life of the consumer rather than the device itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Forrester |first=Chris |date=2021-02-11 |title=SiriusXM loses ‘Lifetime Sub’ lawsuit |url=https://www.advanced-television.com/2021/02/11/siriusxm-loses-lifetime-sub-lawsuit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212143257/https://www.advanced-television.com/2021/02/11/siriusxm-loses-lifetime-sub-lawsuit/ |archive-date=12 Feb 2021 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=Advanced-Television.com}}</ref> The lawsuit was settled in 2021, with 964,000 individuals receiving $421.5 million in benefits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-12 |title=Nearly 1 Million People Will Get Lifetime Subscriptions In SiriusXM Settlement. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/nearly-1-million-people-will-get-lifetime-subscriptions-in-siriusxm-settlement/article_8535b348-6d0d-11eb-a831-430bacb6c9e6.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223072238/https://www.insideradio.com/free/nearly-1-million-people-will-get-lifetime-subscriptions-in-siriusxm-settlement/article_8535b348-6d0d-11eb-a831-430bacb6c9e6.html |archive-date=23 Feb 2021 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=InsideRadio.com}}</ref> These benefits included either to reactivate the lifetime subscription or recover $100 according to the attorneys associated with the case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loritsch |first=Windy |date=2021-03-11 |title=$420 Million SiriusXM Lifetime Subscription Settlement |url=https://www.ahdootwolfson.com/blog/96-4-million-siriusxm-lifetime-subscription-settlement/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226214902/https://www.ahdootwolfson.com/blog/96-4-million-siriusxm-lifetime-subscription-settlement/ |archive-date=26 Feb 2021 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=Ahdoot Wolfson}}</ref>

A similar suit was filed in 2018, but was later dismissed and settled out of court in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bucher |first1=Anne |last2=Toth |first2=Danielle |date=2022-12-29 |title=SiriusXM class action over lifetime subscription dismissed |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/subscriptions/sirius-xm-class-action-over-lifetime-subscription-dismissed/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230063521/https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/subscriptions/sirius-xm-class-action-over-lifetime-subscription-dismissed/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2022 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=TopClassActions.com}}</ref> SiriusXM no longer offers lifetime memberships.

===Subscription cancellation (''2024'')===
In December 2023, the New York attorney general filed a lawsuit against SiriusXM for "making it intentionally difficult for its customers to cancel their subscriptions."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox5ny.com/news/new-york-files-lawsuit-siriusxm-subscriptions|title=New York files lawsuit against SiriusXM, alleging company made it tough to cancel subscriptions|work=Fox 5|date=2023-12-21|access-date=2025-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927095530/https://www.fox5ny.com/news/new-york-files-lawsuit-siriusxm-subscriptions|archive-date=2024-09-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2024, a New York judge found SiriusXM liable for the “long and burdensome” process of cancelling a SiriusXM subscription, which violated the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/22/24303294/sirius-xm-cancellation-process-illegal-ny-ag|title=Judge rules SiriusXM’s annoying cancellation process is illegal|first=Emma|last=Roth|date=2024-11-22|work=TheVerge|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120124020/https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/22/24303294/sirius-xm-cancellation-process-illegal-ny-ag|archive-date=2025-01-20|url-status=live}}</ref> The lawsuit was filed in December 2023 and it was reported it took 11 minutes to cancel over phone and 30 minutes to do so online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stempel |first=Jonathan |date=2024-11-22 |title=Sirius XM found liable in New York lawsuit over subscription cancellations |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/sirius-xm-found-liable-new-york-lawsuit-over-subscription-cancellations-2024-11-22/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/reuters_com_legal_sirius_xm_found_liable_new_york_lawsuit_over_subscription_cancellations_2024_11_22 |archive-date=20 May 2026 |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

==Products==
*Pandora<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.siriusxm.com/|title=Corporate|work=SiriusXM|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305234311/https://corporate.siriusxm.com/|archive-date=2025-03-05|url-status=live}}</ref> (January 2000)

==See also==
*[[Stellantis in-car advertisements]]
*[[Subaru Starlink]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Jeep

2026-06-06T02:29:11Z

Neige: Wikipedia link changed to Consumer Rights Wiki page

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=
|Founded=1943
|Industry=Automotive
|Logo=Jeep wordmark.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.jeep.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Jeep|'''Jeep''']] is an American automobile brand owned by [[Stellantis]].

==Incidents==

===Ads in the infotainment display===
{{Main|Stellantis in-car advertisements}}

Jeep vehicles have begun displaying pop-up commercials on the infotainment screen.<ref>https://www.carscoops.com/2025/02/jeep-owners-complain-about-pop-up-ads-on-their-screens/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250510155921/https://www.carscoops.com/2025/02/jeep-owners-complain-about-pop-up-ads-on-their-screens/ Archived])</ref> This occurs each time the vehicle come to a full stop, and they cannot be disabled. This is a safety issue since such advertisements are highly distracting, and pose as a risk while driving.<ref>https://ackodrive.com/news/jeep-shows-pop-up-ads-to-users-in-the-infotainment-system/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251022135011/https://ackodrive.com/news/jeep-shows-pop-up-ads-to-users-in-the-infotainment-system/ Archived])</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Company Response==
Automotive news outlet [https://www.thedrive.com/ TheDrive] reached out to Jeep regarding the on-screen pop-up ads and were provided the following response:

" This was an in-vehicle message designed to inform Jeep customers about Mopar extended vehicle care options. A temporary software glitch affected the ability to instantly opt out in a few isolated cases, though instant opt-out is the standard for all our in-vehicle messages. Our team had already identified and corrected the error, and we are following up directly with the customer to ensure the matter is fully resolved." <ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Caleb |date=2025-02-07 |title=Jeep Is Spamming Drivers With Extended Warranty Ads Through Uconnect Infotainment |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/jeep-owners-say-pop-up-ads-for-extended-warranties-keep-blocking-their-touchscreens |website=TheDrive |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218081252/https://www.thedrive.com/ |archive-date=18 Feb 2026}}</ref>[[File:Jeep-ads-reddit.jpeg|alt=Jeep AD at stop|thumb|Jeep puts an ad covering entire screen <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-05 |title=Jeep puts an ad covering my entire screen, and it comes back every time you stop even if you hit ok. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/1iij34r/jeep_puts_an_ad_covering_my_entire_screen_and_it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250206075610/https://old.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/1iij34r/jeep_puts_an_ad_covering_my_entire_screen_and_it/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2025}}</ref>]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Jeep]]

Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident

2026-06-06T02:26:53Z

Neige:

{{OngoingEvent}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Volkswagen
|StartDate=2024
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Privacy, Surveillance
|Description=Volkswagen suffered a large databreach, revealing customer's location data, battery statistics, and sensitive personal information.
}}
In 2024, [[Volkswagen]] experienced a data-security incident involving customer vehicle information stored on [[Amazon Web Services]] (AWS). The incident occurred when Volkswagen's implementation of [[CARIAD]], a system used for storing terabytes of customer data, was discovered to have publicly accessible storage instances, because of a misconfiguration<ref name=":0">[https://cybersecuritynews.com/volkswagen-data-breach/]"Volkswagen Data Breach: 800,000 Electric Car Owners’ Data Leaked" written by Guru Baran (co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security). [https://web.archive.org/web/20260330070402/https://cybersecuritynews.com/volkswagen-data-breach/ Archived] from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved on January 15, 2025.</ref>.

==Background==

This incident occurred within a broader context of automotive data-security concerns. Modern vehicles increasingly collect and transmit various types of data, including location information, driving patterns, and user identification<ref name=":1">[https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy-research/tech-at-ftc/2024/05/cars-consumer-data-unlawful-collection-use]"Cars & Consumer Data: On Unlawful Collection & Use" written in collaboration by the Office of Technology and the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection in the Bureau of Consumer Protection. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240514181955/https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy-research/tech-at-ftc/2024/05/cars-consumer-data-unlawful-collection-use Archived] from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.</ref>. The automotive industry has previously faced scrutiny regarding data-collection practices, with documented instances of manufacturers collecting and sharing vehicle data with third parties.

==The incident==
[[File:Volkswagen geo-location pie chart.png|alt=Pie chart showing the total cars affected including the severity of each(whether its location was exposed down to a radius of 10cm or 10km) and breakdown by brand|thumb|Pie chart showing the total cars affected and breakdown by brand]]
The core issue stemmed from a misconfiguration in Volkswagen's AWS storage implementation, which left customer data publicly accessible without proper authentication or access restrictions<ref name=":0" />. This exposed sensitive information about vehicle locations, EV-battery statistics and sensitive customer information. The incident not only breached customer trust, but Volkswagen's own [[Terms of Service]].

==Industry context==

The incident highlighted ongoing discussions about automotive data security and privacy. Similar concerns were raised during the [[2020 Massachusetts Right to Repair ballot initiative]], where major automotive manufacturers including [[General Motors]], [[Ford]], [[Nissan]], [[Toyota]], and [[Honda]] invested approximately $25 million in campaign advertising discussing data security implications.

==Regulatory response==

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has previously expressed concerns about automotive data security. Following the 2020 Massachusetts Right to Repair initiative, NHTSA official Carrie Gules issued a letter addressing potential security vulnerabilities in vehicle data systems.<ref>https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/vehicle_cybersecurity_best_practices_01072021.pdf. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210720041841/https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/vehicle_cybersecurity_best_practices_01072021.pdf Archived] from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2025.</ref>

==Broader implications==

This incident demonstrates the broader challenges facing the automotive industry regarding data security and privacy. It has been documented that automotive manufacturers regularly collect various types of vehicle data,<ref name=":1" /> including:
*Location information
*Driving patterns
*Vehicle-operation metrics
*User-behavior data

Some manufacturers have established partnerships with data aggregators and insurance companies for data-sharing purposes. For example, General Motors has been documented to share driving data with LexisNexis and insurance companies, including information about:

*Vehicle-location data
*Turning-radius information
*Stop times
*Drive times

==See also==
*Data privacy
*[[Right to repair]]
*[[CARIAD]]
*[[Volkswagen]]
*[[2020 Massachusetts Right to Repair ballot initiative]]
*[[General Motors data collection and sharing controversy]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Data breaches]]

[[Category:AWS security incidents]]


==Further Reading==
*[https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/volkswagen-konzern-datenleck-wir-wissen-wo-dein-auto-steht-a-e12d33d0-97bc-493c-96d1-aa5892861027 For the link to the news source which was tipped off by a German hacktivist group]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20241227094207/https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/volkswagen-konzern-datenleck-wir-wissen-wo-dein-auto-steht-a-e12d33d0-97bc-493c-96d1-aa5892861027 Archived] from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agcp37iiWLc&t=188s Youtube video with mentioned credits for more information].
[[Category:Automotive privacy]]
[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:CARIAD]]
[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Articles based on videos]]

Article suggestions

2026-06-03T15:13:04Z

Neige: Removed Apple pentalobe screws. Added to Apple page.

This page is dedicated towards providing a communal list for users to submit potential articles to feature on the wiki, and to give editors inspiration on what pages they might want to add to the wiki. If you create an article based on an entry from this list, or see that someone else has done so, please make sure to delete the row from this page in order to prevent confusion.

Sources should be inserted within the 'refs' section of the table. If using the [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Jargon_buster#Visual_editor_('Edit')|visual editor]], take advantage of '<nowiki/>'''insert reference'''<nowiki/>' via {{Key press|Ctrl|Shift|K}} so that the sources are quick to add to future articles. If you are using the source editor, feel free to copy and paste the formatting from other correctly formatted references on the page. The more sources you include with an article idea, the more likely it is that others will pick the article idea up and run with it, so please attempt to include a good variety of descriptive sources!

Please take note of the wiki's [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion criteria]] when submitting article suggestions. If you see article suggestions here which do not fit the Wiki, feel free to remove them, leaving your reasoning in an edit note.

If you are an editor looking for further inspiration to write an article, you can also check out the [[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory|Louis Rossmann video directory]] and [[Other Channels - Video Directory|other channels video directory]] for a good collections of potential articles.

==Example==
Below is an example of what an entry should appear as:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[Nintendo]]
|In 2025, the company Nintendo stripped Switch 2 consoles that used the MIG switch cartridge of all online functionality
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251222013641/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |archive-date=22 Dec 2025|access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|}

==List of incidents not yet covered==
[[Category:Sources]]
- LEGO BRICKS investigator utuber had to flee USA due to cop hitsquad <nowiki>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxZPfj8AlmY</nowiki>

For the last two months said youtuber tried to help a family recover 2000 dolars, currently in hiding in mexico due to swatting
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|194 Online Marketing Services (incl. [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]])
|Survey shows that more than half of websites set marketing cookies despite users opting out via Do Not Track header, Browser add-ons or by declining cookie banners. Google calles it a "misunderstanding of how their products work", Meta comments that according to the law an opt-out only prohibits selling of the data, not collecting it.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://globalprivacyaudit.org/2026/california}}</ref>
|-
|[[8Player]]
|In early March, 2026, the Apple TV application called 8Player began displaying a notice informing users who had already paid for the app, that the app would not continue to function unless they agreed to an ongoing subscription.
The text of the notice says the following:
----Thank you for being a valued 8player user.

To keep improving the app and delivering new features, 8player is moving to a subscription model.

You can continue using the full version at no cost until April 15, 2026.

After that, activate the subscription in the app to keep full access. Your existing features will remain available, and no action is needed today.

Thank you for supporting 8player over the years.

[[:File:8player-subscription-model-notice.png]]
|
|-
|[[ABC Financial Services]]
|Manages memberships and recurring service subscriptions for other companies. Prevents customers from being able to cancel a service by locking them into a never-ending cycle of auto renewals, and not allowing the customer to opt out of auto renewal.
|
|-
|[[Acer]]
|Removed Predator/Nitro Sense Applications for laptops from their support sites somewhere in early March 2026 (Looking at wayback machine snapshots). The application is required by the laptops to be able to toggle "Turbo" mode, which applies overclocks and boosts cooling. Additionally, recent Windows update(s) (KB5083769/KB5082417) have broken the application, making users unable to use it even if you were able to install it.
|
|-
|AcuRite
|AcuRite began emailing customers last month that they’d soon have to control their devices with the "AcuRite Now" iOS and Android app, eliminating the free "My AcuRite" app, the replacement of which, "AcuRite Now" requires a subscription for features previously active in the free app.
|https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/05/weather-monitoring-firm-hangs-dark-cloud-over-customers-heads-by-forcing-new-app/
|-
|Affinity / [[Canva]] page created needs editors to help
|Canva purchases [[Serif]]; the owner of perpetual license design software Affinity Publisher, Designer, and Photo on March 26th 2024. Provides a pledge to assure users that Canva will not "ruin" the suite. In October 2025, Affinity users are locked out of the community forum for a new "Creative Freedom" announcement on October 30th 2025. Complete radio silence for a whole month while they tease long term users on Twitter and Discord. Finally on October 30th 2025, the new Affinity software is announced as "free". Instead, all creative professionals that used the original software are forced to create a new Canva account to access the new Affinity and thus agree to Canva's ToS<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-30 |title=Canva Terms of Use |url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128105545/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|website=Canva Legal Trust Center}}</ref>. Affinity redirects the pledge page to an announcement for the new software, effectively burying the original pledge<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge |url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ |archive-date=2025-10-02 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>. Questions about Canva now being able to monetize the work of professionals to train their own AI models sold to Canva users are left unanswered. Free, but at what cost?
EDIT: Initial article has been written but needs more work, citation, and verification. [[Canva Affinity Studio adds arbitration clause|See this article here]].
|<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
|-
|[[Alibaba]]
|{{Wplink|Alibaba Group|Wikipedia entry}}
|
|-
|[[AMD]]
|Linux users now have to pay for Vivado even though it used to be free
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=2026-05-25 |title=AMD Pulls a Bait-and-Switch on Linux Users with Vivado Licensing Changes |url=https://itsfoss.com/news/amd-vivado-bait-and-switch-on-linux-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=It's FOSS}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apotheka]]
|Personal ID codes, purchase information and contact details of almost half of Estonian citizens and residents have been compromised in a mass data breach of the IT system operated by Allium UPI, a firm dealing with pharmacy and hospital products.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Cybercriminals steal data of around 700,000 Apotheka pharmacy customers |url=https://news.err.ee/1609302096/cybercriminals-steal-data-of-around-700-000-apotheka-pharmacy-customers |url-status=live |website=[[ERR]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]]
|$17 000 Apple Watch 18 karat gold edition out of support only 8 years after its introduction (not end of sale!). This means no software support, and, crucially, no repair or replacement parts. If the battery dies, the watch is but a paperweight.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple will no longer fix the $17,000 gold Apple Watch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222211749/https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|website=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]], [[Beats]]
|No support for Powerbeats (4th generation) despite the headphones being under 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale. The product is not listed as discontinued or vintage, and by Apple's own guidelines, should be eligible for replacement parts and repair. OEM replacement eartips cannot be purchased for any Beats earphones.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207094149/https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |archive-date=7 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beats Repair and Service |url=https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260104000857/https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |archive-date=4 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple store search for eartips |url=https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251028001314/https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |archive-date=28 Oct 2025|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]] iWork/Creator Studio
|The update that makes the iWork apps part of the new Apple Creator Studio subscription now adds tracking that is enabled by default and implemented as opt-out. The information about it is displayed in a first launch screen without any immediate way opt out, which qualifies as a dark pattern. Instead, the user has to go through a slightly convoluted path via the iPhone/iPad system settings app, and under the submenu "Apps" find each of the iWork apps and disable analytics there individually for each app. On Desktop, it is under a dedicated menu item under the "Pages"/"Numbers"/"Keynote" menu.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=New versions of Keynote, Numbers, and Pages collect telemetry by default on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032029/https://old.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[archive.today]] / archive.ph (Web Archival Service)
|The website used [[JavaScript]] embedded into the website code to conduct a DDOS attack from users' devices against a blogger who has voiced criticism of the service in the past. This may make also cause legal issues for users.
NOTE: A similar technique has previously been used by Chinese search giant [[Baidu]], so we might want to create a category or tag for this type of thing

ADDENDUM: This page was reported to have been changing the information displayed in some archived screenshots, such as the author who published particular articles.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirchner |first=Malte |last2=Kunz |first2=Dr. Christopher |date=10 Feb 2026 |title=Archive.today: Operator uses users for DDoS attack |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Archive-today-Operator-uses-users-for-DDoS-attack-11171455.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212060655/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Archive-today-Operator-uses-users-for-DDoS-attack-11171455.html |archive-date=12 Feb 2026 |website=heise}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |title=Wikipedia Banned 690,000 Archive Links - LMG Clips |url=https://youtu.be/rrnFUvFGf5A?si=32JRogu2ID9xykHd |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=LMG Clips on YouTube - Wikipedia Banned 690,000 Archive Links}}</ref>
|-
|[[ASUS]] (ROG)
|Releases bios updates via windows executable, meaning that you can't update your bios to the latest version to amend a security vulnerability or fix an issue unless you're running microsoft windows. The windows executable simply extracts a binary file, that you can drop on a thumb drive. This could be easily done via direct download to support other operating systems.
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|[[AutoAuth]]
|'''AutoAuth''' represents a significant shift toward "repair-by-subscription," where owning a vehicle no longer guarantees the right to maintain it. By placing a digital firewall between the owner and the car’s computer, AutoAuth forces independent shops and DIY enthusiasts to pay recurring access fees and register their personal data with a third-party gatekeeper just to perform basic maintenance, such as electronic parking brake retractions or oil life resets.
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|[[Backblaze]]
|Backblaze makes canceling a subscription needlessly complex and convoluted. This is referring to their personal backup solution, I do not know how other subscriptions are handled.
To cancel a Backblaze subscription after 30 days you are required to delete your account. A full refund can apparently be requested within that window
[https://www.backblaze.com/company/policy/payments-and-refunds "Payments and refunds"].
If after 30 days you decide to cancel or switch to a different service after your subscription ends you have the following options:
1. Wait until the end of your subscription to cancel.
2. Delete your account, removing your access to the service prematurely.
There is no "do not renew" option, even removing your payment information is not possible. In my opinion it should be possible to enjoy the access you paid for without having to remember to cancel a year or two later.
[https://help.backblaze.com/hc/en-us/articles/217665728-Canceling-and-Deleting-a-Backblaze-Account "Canceling and deleting a Backblaze account"]
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|[[Bayer]]
|[[wikipedia:Bayer|Wikipedia]]. See [[Monsanto]]
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|[[Benjamin]]
|Offerwall phone app that pays users money for various tasks- such as watching ads, or downloading and using software. After years of user satisfaction, in late 2025, the company first put a 2 month moratorium on users' ability to withdraw their earned money, then rolled out a massive wave of enshittification features, the most egregious of which, is a "withdrawl queue", where withdrawing your earnings is placed into a queue with no visible progress. No days, no queue tracker, many members have been waiting over 3 months for their withdrawls to be processed, on a feature listed as "instant withdrawl". Various policies also implemented that would completely void a user's earned money, mainly inactivity but also many baseless random user bans (many of which were reversed). There are hundreds of frustrated user testimonials on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/benjaminone/).
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|Berlin
|City of Berlin installs security cameras that alerts authorities about people who are "loitering without reason".
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=10 Mar 2026 |title=Surveillance in Berlin: When AI reports "loitering without reason" |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Surveillance-in-Berlin-When-AI-reports-loitering-without-reason-11206420.html |website=heise}}</ref>
|-
|[[Better Business Bureau]] (BBB)
|Users who have been wronged and even scammed by companies have recently started reporting that the BBB has ignored, rejected, misclassified, closed prematurely or taken down their valid, BBB compliant, complaints for no apparent reason<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-29 |title=Better Business Bureau Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bbb.org |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=Trustpilot}}</ref>. Attempts to remedy the situation often result in unanswered/ignored emails and ghosting. Companies with large percentages of unresolved complaints often get an A+ rating (which basically contradicts the BBB's own guidelines). This is especially true when it comes to paying BBB member companies, but is often also the case with non member companies. A Redditors explained that a company can easily buy an A+ BBB rating by paying the BBB<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waste Managment sent an ad disguised as a bill |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ColoradoSprings/comments/1l6hr18/comment/mwpys3o/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=Reddit}}</ref> or by paying a lawyer to threaten to sue the BBB for defamation.
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|-
|[[Best Buy]]
|In late 2025, BestBuy added [https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/pricing-message/pcmcat748302046647.c?id=pcmcat748302046647#:~:text=Our%20%E2%80%9CComparable%20Value%E2%80%9D%20(Comp,retailers%20or%20e%2Dcommerce%20companies. "Comparable Value"] as means of comparing values of products that is of equivalent value to other products sold by manufacturers, 1st party, or 3rd party vendors. Changes to their pricing model has made it to where it is more difficult to determine overall value of a product compared to MSRP.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Support |first=Best Buy |date=2025-01-24 |title=Pricing: Promotions |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/pricing-message/pcmcat748302046647.c?id=pcmcat748302046647#:~:text=Our%20%E2%80%9CComparable%20Value%E2%80%9D%20(Comp,retailers%20or%20e%2Dcommerce%20companies. |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Best Buy}}</ref>
|-
|[[Blackview]]
|[https://www.blackview.hk Blackview], a technology brand that originally specialized in rugged outdoor phones more info at [https://www.blackview.hk/about-blackview "About us]"
Certain Phones have been hit with advertisements from the App called "System message" which is baked in the OS, "Allow Notification dots" can be disabled however "All System message notifications" and neither "Push" notifications cannot be disabled by the user. The App cannot be disabled nor uninstalled, it can be forced stopped and set the battery restriction option to "restricted". I [[User:SolidSnakePliskin|SolidSnakePliskin]] creating this entry have seen this happen firsthand on 1st April 2026 on my Blackview Model Number: N6000 (EEA) Purchased on [https://web.archive.org/web/20260401174012/https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0CCXBNTWR Amazon Italy]. OS Details: Android Version 13 (Security Update November 5, 2025) & DokeOS 3.1. Further More other Reddit users complaining [https://old.reddit.com/r/blackview/comments/1mo441x/get_rid_of_system_notification_that_contains_ads/ here].
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|-
|[[Bluesky]]
|Introduced ID check for Direct Messaging to comply with laws in certain states and abroad, despite both the company and community being against it.
Its legal docs ([https://bsky.social/about/support/tos ToS], [https://bsky.social/about/support/privacy-policy PP], [https://bsky.social/about/support/community-guidelines CG]) need [[JavaScript|JS]] to be viewed by humans, however this seems more of an oversight than deliberate
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|[[Carvana]]
|Saying cars that have been in accidents have not; Lies about inspection and does not replace brake pads even when worn down. Non-refundable $1,500 shipping fee. See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9yhOeTUEo4 Louis Rossmann's video]
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|-
|[[Chuwi]]
|Misleading consumers by falsifying the specsheet of one of their latest laptops, and repeatedly threatened one of the online publications that wrote an article of their alleged misdeeds.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leitner |first=Simon |date=2026-03-12 |title=CPU fraud, next round: Chuwi CoreBook Plus with supposed AMD Ryzen 5 7430U also affected |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313120720/https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref>
|-
|[[Cloudary Holdings Limited / Webnovel]]
|Terms of service with binding Arbitration.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Webnovel ToS |url=https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260101204816/https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |archive-date=1 Jan 2026}}</ref>
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|[[Devolo]]
|Devolo switches off servers and removes their app from stores for their "Home Control" system, thus severely reducing the functionality of their devices (apparently Z-Wave-based).
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=IT-News für Profis |url=https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210052941/https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |archive-date=10 Dec 2025|website=Golem |language=de}}</ref>
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|[[DeviantArt]]
|DeviantArt launched in 2000 and quickly became a household name among digital artists. [https://www.wix.com/press-room/home/post/wix-acquires-deviantart-pairing-wix-capabilities-with-global-creative-community But in 2017 WiX] bought the website and in 2022 had made all art on it's site liable to be training data by default. They then back peddled and then set all art to noai by default. Now they are moving basic functions to be behind their paywall. [https://www.deviantart.com/razorstargazer/journal/Deviantart-is-the-worst-website-ever-created-1309667089 Ones that were free.]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The AI Controversy on DeviantArt: How a Creative Paradise Became a Battleground |url=https://expertbeacon.com/the-ai-controversy-on-deviantart-how-a-creative-paradise-became-a-battleground/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wix Acquires DeviantArt, Pairing Wix Capabilities with Global Creative Community |url=https://www.wix.com/press-room/home/post/wix-acquires-deviantart-pairing-wix-capabilities-with-global-creative-community |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|DotPe cyber-sec negligence
|In 2024, an Indian company that provides digital services to food-chains got trivially hacked/cracked, allowing anyone to get customer data and company revenue-stats across many countries
|<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240923081639/https://peabee.substack.com/p/whats-inside-the-qr-code-menu-at</ref>
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|[[Digital Europe]] (lobby organization consisting of [[Microsoft]], [[Google]], [[Amazon]], and [[Meta]])
|Group lobbied to keep datacenter emissions secret from consumers via confidentiality clause that was adopted almost verbatim by the Eurpean Comission, intentionally keeping consumers in the dark about the environmental impact of the products they use.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/17/microsoft-us-tech-firms-lobbied-eu-secrecy-rules-datacentre-emissions}}</ref>
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|[[E621]]
|Terms of service that require agreement to forced arbitration to use the website.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=E621 |url=https://e621.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128164339/https://e621.net/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|website=E621}}</ref>
|-
|[[EcoVac]]
|Vacuum cleaner robots produced by company 'EcoVac' were found vulnerable to hacking over bluetooth allowing for remote control and access to camera feed. Security researcher Dennis Giese notified the company in December of 2023. In August of 2024, the issue was described by the company as "extremely rare in typical user environments and require specialized hacking tools and physical access to the device."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fell |first=Julian |date=2024-10-04 |title=We hacked a robot vacuum — and could watch live through its camera - ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251128025250/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |archive-date=28 Nov 2025|access-date=2025-09-10 |website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-09 |title=Ecovacs home robots can be hacked to spy on their owners, researchers say {{!}} TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222212044/https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |archive-date=2026-02-22 |access-date=10 Aug 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-15 |title=Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on X: "Finally, Ecovacs responds to the researchers' findings, saying it won't fix the bugs. |url=https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241108194816/https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |archive-date=8 Nov 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[Elegoo Centauri Carbon|Elegoo]]
|The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3d printer has been proven to use open source Klipper software which requires them to publish their changes to the code.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-28 |title=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance |url=https://freethecode.lol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206142736/https://freethecode.lol/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025|access-date=2025-08-28 |website=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance}}</ref>
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|[[Ericcson]]
|Data Breach March 2026
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|-
|[[FBI]]
|FBI buys location data of US citizens
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=FBI is buying location data to track US citizens, director confirms |url=https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/18/fbi-is-buying-location-data-to-track-us-citizens-kash-patel-wyden/ |url-status=live |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref>
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|[[Foxconn]]
|Foxconn is an electronics manufacturer with various human rights violations on it's record. They've also convinced the government to use eminent domain to take people's property to build factories, that never end up using the factories.
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|[[Foxit Reader]]
|Updater uses dark pattern to trick unsuspecting users into installing a trial version of their paid product. The checkbox is enabled again by default with each update in the hope that the user misses it by accident at some point.
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|-
|[[Gaggia]]
|Between 2015 to 2019, the redesigned Gaggia Classic removed the traditional three-way solenoid valve. The valve was restored in the 2019 Gaggia Classic Pro after criticism and backlash from the espresso enthusiast community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waddell |first=Kelsey |date=2023-03-23 |title=Gaggia Classic vs Pro: A Closer Look at the Differences |url=https://www.roastycoffee.com/gaggia-classic-vs-pro/ |website=Roasty Coffee}}</ref>
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|[[General Motors|GM]]
|GM originally released the EV1 in 1996 on a lease program, and then instead of selling the much loved used/leased vehicles to consumers, they decided to crush the grand majority of them. Very few surviving examples can be found today, with most in private collections or at universities.
Because it was seen as a failure to major auto manufacturers, It would take over a decade before another EV was produced in the United States.
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|Google TLS Changes
|Google's new requirements to certificate authorities require separate authority/signing chains to be used to issue Server Authentication and Client Authentication certificates. Therefore, starting 11 February 2026, Let's Encrypt will no longer include the Client Authentication EKU on default certificates
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|[[Google]] ([[Android]])
|Google apparently plans to reduce the interval of publishing source code of security patches they consider non-critical. This is another blow to the custom ROM community.
Right now we don't have these incidents organised chronologically, maybe we should have a table with a timeline of measures Google takes to enshittify and close down Android (more APIs moved to Play Services, Developer verification, withholding AOSP device trees for Pixel devices to mess with [[GrapheneOS]], now delayed source code disclosure). What's worst, they always cite safety as a reason.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260107025310/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Android Authority}}</ref>
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|[[Google Maps]]
|Google restricts data visible in Google Maps for users who are not signed in with an account (see [[Forced account]]). Reviews and photos are no longer visible without login. This also forces users to agree to Google's TOS and logs them into all other Google services, such as YouTube or Google Search so that now all their data in those other services is associated with their accounts. This also raises concerns that other services such as YouTube might follow.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Feb 2026 |title=Google Maps now forces you to sign-in |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r4iauf/google_maps_now_forces_you_to_signin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032117/https://old.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r4iauf/google_maps_now_forces_you_to_signin/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2026 |title=Can't view images without logging in? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r74v0f/cant_view_images_without_logging_in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032213/https://old.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r74v0f/cant_view_images_without_logging_in/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>
|-
|[[Google]], [[Mozilla]], [[Apple]], [[Microsoft]], but largely Google-led
|Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari are removing XSLT 1.0 support, which could break critical parts of government's websites worldwide<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dimant |first=Dimitrii "Mamut" |date=2025-08-10 |title=XSLT removal will break multiple government and regulatory sites across the world #11582 |url=https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211221059/https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-25 |website=Github (specifically the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group's HTML standards repo, controlled by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft and Apple)}}</ref>. There are valid security reasons for them to want to stop supporting this 1999-era standard, however they have had 26+ years to update to a newer standard (such as the 2017-era 3.1 standard, which is backwards compatible and would allow these sites to continue to work<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-21 |title="XML Path Language (XPath) 3.1: W3C Recommendation 21 March 2017" |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116015839/https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026|website=W3C}}</ref>). The single unpaid developer maintaining these libraries has more or less retired after getting flooded with impossible to satisfy security requests from these companies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellnhoffer |first=Nick |date=2025-05-08 |title=Triaging security issues reported by third parties |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131231248/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |archive-date=31 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-25 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>. There is an existing project called XRUST to implement the 3.1 standard<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-09 |title=XRust: XPath, XQuery, and XSLT for Rust |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204085435/https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |archive-date=4 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>, which is 2/3rds of the way through supporting all the features of 1.0 - the XSLT part fully supports all the 1.0 features at this point. XSLT is part of the W3C Consortium's open web standards for formatting and presenting XML, and is also how RSS works, so RSS feeds would stop working as well, disrupting the livelihoods of podcasters<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rijo |first=Luis |date=2025-08-20 |title=Google targets RSS feeds in new XSLT removal proposal |url=https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222212228/https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=PPC-Land}}</ref>. This has led to questions of who owns the web - the public (including the government) who paid for and laid down the highways / web infrastructure - or a handful of large corporations? <ref>{{Cite web |last=Branscombe |first=Mary |date=2025-09-01 |title=XSLT Debate Leads to Bigger Questions of Web Governance |url=https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131231310/https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |archive-date=31 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=The New Stack}}</ref>
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|-
|[[Google Photos]]
|Google Makes it more difficult to manage photos within your google drive account through third party applications, including open source software running on linux.
This makes it incredibly frustrating to clear space in google drive if you've exceeded the space limits.
|<ref>https://github.com/gilesknap/gphotos-sync-discussion/discussions/1</ref>
|-
|[[GoPro]] Hero 12
|GoPro Hero 12 requires the GoPro app to be installed before you can use the camera. Many currently used devices are not compatible with the app, therefore making use of the camera difficult to impossible for new owners or upon camera factory reset. There's also the question of what data the app collects and whether it requires login and or camera activation.
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|-
|[[Honda]]
|moved the garage door opener from a button on the mirror to a [[Pay-walling|paywall]] [[subscription service]]
|<ref>https://reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/1sd54jo/replaced_my_honda_with_a_new_one_after_an/</ref>
|-
|[[Hyundai]] (BlueLink)
|Hyundai ads in-car advertisements for subscription services, while you're driving, after telling you not to look at the screen while driving.
The advertisement is a full page of text, that you can't either enable or disable while you're driving. Your only options are to (A) select later, to delay the ad for another driving session, or (2) Pull over and park your car so you can (C) enable the feature at $10/mo or (iii) dig through settings menus to figure out how to disable the message permanently (which will probably only be actually permanent until the battery in the car dies).
BlueLink appears to be marketing lingo for their cell-phone-linked remote start/stop, lock/unlock, and climate control features. The only feature that should actually need a cellular subscription appears to be stolen vehicle recovery.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Hank |date=2026-16-04 |title=Should I Sue Hyundai? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ1RUyOF2Rk |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref>https://connected-mobility.hyundai.com/what-we-do/connected-car-services/bluelink</ref>
|-
|[[Internet radios]]
|I'd like a page where I can share information about internet radios "openness." Few allow you to enter a radio station's URL (which I would consider the least intrusive option). Most depend on third-party websites or apps; [https://www.sangean.com/uk/blog/149 some of which have already bricked devices].
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|-
|[[itch.io]], [[Night School Studios]], [[Netflix]]
|In September 2024, users who purchased the game Oxenfree on itch.io were warned that the game was going to be pulled from the platform on October 1st. Consumers would not be able to download the installers after this date, so they would lose access unless they had them backed up. Users speculated that Netflix, the parent company of the development studio, had ordered the move; however, no response from Netflix or the developers was ever published. This is particularly notable because it is against itch.io's terms of service: "Users shall retain a license to this content even after the content is removed from the Service."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=itch corp |date=15 Apr 2023 |title=itch.io Terms of Service |url=https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907004719/https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=ShawnS |date=31 Jan 2025 |title=OXENFREE |url=https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070400/https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=9 Sep 2024 |title=Another reminder that your digital library isn't forever: Oxenfree will be completely removed from Itch.io next month |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523111125/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>
|-
|[[The Japan Times|Japan Times, The]]
|The Japan Times uses the DMCA to take down an open source study resource for the Genki and Quartet workbooks.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clydesdale |first=Seth |date=2025-09-11 |title=Important Information Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116072121/https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |archive-date=16 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Update Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources DMCA Situation |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251115073152/https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |archive-date=15 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=All Exercises for Genki/Quartet Study Resources Have Been Removed |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113045244/https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kangaroo]]
|A home security camera company that locks local hardware features behind software subscriptions and paywalls that ultimately could work without external service. Access to local storage playback via the app is locked behind a paywall; see reviews. "cooldown" periods provide a risk to security as motion detection does not activate until after a fixed period of time on no-subscription plans with clips that only capture 12 seconds of recording, this was not always the case.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=John |date=2021-11-09 |title=Kangaroo Indoor + Outdoor Cam Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kangaroo-indoor-plus-outdoor-cam |url-status=live |archive-date=2024-08-11 |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=PCMag}}</ref><ref>https://www.bestbuy.com/product/kangaroo-indoor-outdoor-wired-1080p-security-camera-white/J3QLYYW64G/sku/6506997/reviews?pageSize=20</ref>
|-
|[[Klarna]]
|A German consumer rights association reports that payment provider Klarna requests access to users' bank accounts for payment purposes, but instead of just initiating transactions as the user expects, it also scans the complete list of transactions on the user's bank account for advertising purposes and also forwards that data to third parties. Klarna also faces criticism for encouraging debt by offering "buy now, pay later" schemes.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/apps/klarna-verbraucherschuetzer-kritisieren-konto-schnueffelei-bei-zahlungsdienstleister-a-de915cd3-997e-4b39-ad67-bb5d22969635}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.chip.de/news/Warnung-vor-KlarnaVebraucherschuetzer-sind-besorgt_185654845.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-News-Sicherheit-Verbraucherzentrale-warnt-Klarna-analysiert-Kontodaten-39229147.html}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kohls]]
|There is no option to delete your account on their website
|
|-
|[[KOSA]]
|KOSA claims to make kids safer, but it’s really a dangerous censorship bill that would give the U.S. government unprecedented control over the internet. This would put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing potentially life-saving resources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fight for the Future |first= |date=2026-01-24 |title=Reject online censorship. Tell lawmakers to oppose KOSA! |url=https://www.stopkosa.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Stop KOSA}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250228145348/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Katy-ISD-blocks-LGBTQ-resources-suicide-16647274.php</ref>
|-
|[[LBRY]] Foundation, [[Odysee]]
|Community first decentralization & Odysee's plan to enable censorship by switching away from the opensource LBRY network.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The LBRY Foundation |url=https://lbry.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161516/https://lbry.org/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-08-08 |quote=The LBRY community invites everyone to join us in building a more free and open way to share content and information online.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Watson |first=RT |date=6 Jun 2024 |title=Decentralized YouTube alternative Odysee acquired by Forward Research despite content concerns |url=https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127094918/https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|access-date=16 Aug 2025 |work=The Block}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Li |first=Jun |last2=Grintsvayg |first2=Alex |last3=Kauffman |first3=Jeremy |last4=Fleming |first4=Charles |date=2020 |title=LBRY: A Blockchain-Based Decentralized Digital Content Marketplace |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007 |url-status=live |journal=2020 IEEE International Conference on Decentralized Applications and Infrastructures (DAPPS) |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=IEEE |doi=10.1109/DAPPS49028.2020.00005 |isbn=978-1-7281-6978-1 |url-access=registration |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825221749/https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025 |via=IEEE Xplore}}</ref>
|-
|[[LexisNexis]]
|Data breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[LG]]
|LG discontinued its LG Bluetooth Remote app (including plugins such as "btc4") making it non-public on the Play Store and making Bluetooth controllable devices (like for example the CM2630B) half as useful, without even publishing neither the protocol used to control such devices nor the source code of the app.
|
|-
|Linkedin
|LinkedIn has been caught running a massive, silent operation that scans the local computers of its visitors. Every time a user visits <code>linkedin.com</code> using a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave), a hidden JavaScript program executes to check for the presence of over '''6,000 specific browser extensions.'''
|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHj6IvBmlpU
https://browsergate.eu/
|-
|[[Lowe's]]
|Lowe's uses flock cameras and other AI powered cameras to collect data and build a profile on "prospective, current, or former Lowe's customers". Their cameras point away from their stores.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=6 Aug 2025 |title=Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops |url=https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216173226/https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026|access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=404 Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Lowe’s U.S. Privacy Statement |url=https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228013530/https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |archive-date=28 Dec 2025|access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=Lowe's}}</ref>
|-
|[[Marquis]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Meta]] and [[YouTube]]
|In a recent trial Meta and Google were found liable for making there social media platforms addictive and harmful
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c747x7gz249o |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Microsoft's Android keyboard app SwiftKey set to make it impossible to backup user data without a Microsoft Account, backups must be stored in Microsoft cloud
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=18 Mar 2026 |title=SwiftKey will soon require a Microsoft account to save your typing info. |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/896859/swiftkey-will-soon-require-a-microsoft-account-to-save-your-typing-info}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Locked the developers of Windscribe, Veracrypt, and, Wireguard out of their accounts
|
|-
|[[Microsoft]] Rewards
|Used to be a good program, but over the last few years they've implemented a number of anti-user policies including extensive cool-downs for earning points on Bing, and making it more difficult to redeem points. There are multiple reports on r/microsoftrewards of people getting banned or restricted when they have over $100 worth of points that they are trying to redeem. They've also removed points opportunities that used to be interesting and engaging.
|
|-
|[[Minut]]
|Minute sells sensors and alarms. They released an alarm (Point) on kickstarter that long after release got a firmware update adding forced subscription if more than one person wanted to use the alarm.
|<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/minut/pointthe-friendly-home-alarm</ref>
<ref>https://www.minut.com/</ref>
|-
|[https://www.mobvoi.com/us Mobvoi/Ticwatch]
|Written with partially help of AI
Mobvoi has gained a reputation for a "launch and forget" pattern, where devices are marketed with the promise of future software updates that often arrive years late or are cancelled entirely. This pattern—most notable in the two-year delay of the Wear OS 3 update—frequently leaves consumers with hardware that lacks core advertised features, such as Google Assistant. Additionally, the company faces criticism for restrictive warranty policies and a difficult return process that often places the financial burden of shipping and replacement on the user. Once the app was abandoned subscription was still available for purchases but was unusable
|https://9to5google.com/2025/12/05/mobvoi-ticwatch-wear-os-dead/
https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/mobvoi-explains-wear-os-3-holdup
https://www.pcmag.com/news/another-wear-os-smartwatch-maker-appears-to-have-given-up
https://www.xda-developers.com/mobvoi-lying-ticwatch-hardware/
|-
|Multiple
|Several legal cases involving forced arbitration in some manner; many of these relate to other anticonsumer practices, such as when Wells Fargo illegally opened up ~3.5M fake checking and credit accounts in customers' names. Highly advised to deeply scrub for supplementary sources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 16, 2019 |title=Fact Sheet: Cases Tossed Out of Court Because of Forced Arbitration Causes and Class Action Bans |url=https://www.centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-cases-tossed-out-court-because-forced-arbitration-causes-and-class-action-bans#_ftn1 |access-date=Feb 12, 2026 |website=Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251013145327/https://centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-cases-tossed-out-court-because-forced-arbitration-causes-and-class-action-bans |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[MuseGroup]] (MuseSounds)
|Releasing more and more subscription sound packs while previously released one-time purchase sound packs are full of bugs/issues and have gone without updates for sometimes over a year. They have also increased the price of one-time purchase packs by about 500% while still providing no additional or improved functionality.
They also added unsolicited popups advertising their paid sound packs at startup of the open source MuseScore application, as well as buttons and commands for their cloud service to the home screen, which cannot be disabled. They previously ran into controversy when changing the privacy policy of Audacity and tried to add tracking. The closed-source MuseHub application (which is required to download the free sound packs) connects to tracking services with neither a real opt-in nor an opt-out option. Newer versions of MuseHub now seem to [[Forced account|require an account]] to download free sound packs and sound effects, which previously was not the case. Muse Hub starts at every system launch by default and stays active in the background despite this not being required for its functionality. They also added proprietary parts to MuseScore (like the MuseSample), which is kept closed source. They also bought StaffPad and seem to have quietly ceased its development without publishing any statements.
|
|-
|[[NationStates]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Navdy]], [[Harman International]]
|Device discontinued and no updates, device can be used offline for 1 year until it stops working.
https://www.reddit.com/r/navdy/
|
|-
|[[Navia]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Netgear]] (internet networking equipment)
|Almost every Netgear internet router requires the creation of a new account to function as a router (see [[Forced account]]), where the TOS includes an agreement to binding arbitration. Most if not all devices are locked into proprietary firmware with no option to change. Some automatic updates have reportedly cause loss of performance with option to revert to a previous version, "bricking" the device in some cases.
Engages in anti-consumer practices, requiring a subscription for basic WiFi-router features such as parental controls. According to a blogpost by a senior employee, grew from "45% in 2016 to over 60% in 2019" of the US consumer router market. In 2025, Netgear is "being sued by TP-Link for a 'Smear Campaign' to Advance US Router Ban [of it's competitor TP-Link].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=NETGEAR Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What subscription plans are available for NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls? |url=https://kb.netgear.com/000062104/What-subscription-plans-are-available-for-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abhay Bhorkar |url=https://www.netgear.com/hub/author/abhorkar/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TP-Link Accuses Netgear of 'Smear Campaign' to Advance US Router Ban |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/tp-link-accuses-netgear-of-smear-campaign-to-advance-us-router-ban?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=B |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[https://www.nexigroup.com/ Nexi S.p.A.]
|Nexi is a payment services provider based in Italy, which has been used by the [https://fsfe.org/ Free Software Foundation Europe] (FSFE) for ~ 15 years. They have allegedly been asking FSFE for personal information of FSFE executives and supporters and have recently cancelled their contract with FSFE.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-16 |title=450 FSFE supporters affected: Payment provider Nexi cancelled us |url=https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260316-01.en.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317162959/https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260316-01.en.html |archive-date=2026-03-17 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=FSFE - Free Software Foundation Europe}}</ref>
|-
|[[Odido]] Netherlands B.V.
|Odido is an internet service provider in the Netherlands with a 10-15% market share [[https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/acm-telecommonitor-derde-kwartaal-2025 79]]. On the 3rd of March 2026 a user reported that his Odido Zyxel EX5601-T1 router was (illegally) sending analytics data to a Turkish AI-company [[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/odido-router-verzamelt-analytics-van-je-huishouden-sipke-mellema-0uoie/ 80]]. The user reported on the 8th of March 2026 that the router silently stopped sending this data with no formal mention/patch from Odido. The user reported on the poor security of the router and that the analytics data contained the unencrypted names of local networks, the names of devices connected to these networks, and MAC-addresses. The poor security of Odido's routers follows a massive data leak of 6.2 million customers' full legal names, phone numbers, emails, bank account numbers, passport numbers and more [[https://tweakers.net/nieuws/244656/odido-waarschuwt-voor-datalek-miljoenen-klantgegevens-gestolen-bij-cyberaanval.html 81]].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACM Telecommonitor derde kwartaal 2025 |url=https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/acm-telecommonitor-derde-kwartaal-2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Odido-router verzamelt analytics van je huishouden |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/odido-router-verzamelt-analytics-van-je-huishouden-sipke-mellema-0uoie/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Odido waarschuwt voor datalek: miljoenen klantgegevens gestolen bij cyberaanval |url=https://tweakers.net/nieuws/244656/odido-waarschuwt-voor-datalek-miljoenen-klantgegevens-gestolen-bij-cyberaanval.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[OICA]] (European automotive lobby organisation)
|The OICA recently pushed for the right to emit sounds from quiet electric cars to make them as loud as conventional cars with combustion engine and against stricter noise regulation in cities. The fake engine noises in question are specifically not for safety purposes, but for emotional effect for the driver. However, instead of playing the noises only inside for just the driver to hear, the noise is to be played on speakers on the exterior, thus affecting the general public. Noise pollution has long been known to have adverse health effects. ''[NOTE: Similar to environmental aspects, greenwashing etc., we will have to find a good angle for how this fits the wiki. I would say it does match the general theme of manufacturers deliberately making their products worse for minor financial gain and lobbies pushing against things that are in public interest.]''
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sound Dictatorship vs. Quiet: The Battle for E-Car Roar |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108165124/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |archive-date=8 Jan 2026|access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>
|-
|Pearl Abyss
|Crimson Desert engaged in hardware gatekeeping by purposely locking out support for Intel GPUs. Their response when people asked what was going on was, “Get a refund.” They failed to mention in their hardware requirements that Intel GPUs were not supported. Intel also reached out to Pearl Abyss over the course of Crimson Desert’s development to offer support but was ignored. Pearl Abyss has now backpedaled after public backlash and says they will offer Intel GPU support.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intel suggests it was snubbed by Crimson Desert dev after reaching out "many times" about Arc GPUs – company says it provided "early hardware, drivers, and engineering resources" to studio |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/intel-suggests-it-was-snubbed-by-crimson-desert-dev-after-reaching-out-many-times-about-arc-gpus-company-says-it-provided-early-hardware-drivers-and-engineering-resources-to-studio |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert blocks Intel ARC GPUs from playing, studio asks owners to refund |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/crimson-desert-blocks-intel-arc-gpus-from-playing-studio-asks-owners-to-refund/#:~:text=Users%20on%20Reddit%20who%20discovered,resolution%20for%20Intel%20ARC%20owners. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert doesn't support Intel Arc GPUs on PC, it may never, and the devs say get a refund if you have one — they didn't warn players until launch |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/crimson-desert-doesnt-support-intel-arc-gpus-it-may-never-and-the-devs-say-get-a-refund-if-you-have-one |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert Doesn't Work on Intel GPUs, But Pearl Abyss Is Working On It |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/crimson-desert-doesnt-work-on-intel-gpus-but-pearl-abyss-is-working-on-it |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Regus]]
|A flexible office / workplace provider for freelancers, contractors, small businesses, etc.
This is specifically for their Virtual Office service. I am sure they apply these same predatory and deceptive tactics with the rest of their services as well.
Locks you into a contract for virtual services that they may terminate at any time. You can too only if you follow very specific and exaggerated terms. They will bill you for the entire agreement even with it terminated. You lose access to the services immediately upon termination but are forced to pay for the rest of the agreement. They are predatory with agreements and will not allow you to break them and will charge you for the entire thing regardless of what happens.
Forced arbitration. Force you to waive any right to class action lawsuits.
Contract comes with terms hidden in their "house rules" document, automatically opting the user into services they did not knowingly agree to, by default. These services are NOT included in the original contract in any way except through the referencing to other documents like the "Terms of Service" and "House Rules", not disclosed ahead of time. They clearly show a lower price and do not clearly show any of the additional services you unknowingly opt into.
They lead you into a low price to get the agreement signed. Once signed, you cannot escape or get out with their terms. You find out later that they've made you agree to additional services by default. They require YOU to jump through hoops to opt out of those services, and they bury the information to do it.
They have predatory auto-renewals for the contracts that are typically months to years long, with many being sold into higher 1 year+ contracts for "savings" and "discounts". These auto-renewals cannot be canceled without 3 MONTHS notice! If it renews, you are locked into another term which you will be forced to pay in full even if you terminate.
This is all for VIRTUAL office services that cost nothing to provide or remove.
A lot of deceptive patterns including, but not limited to: Comparison prevention, hidden costs, hidden subscription, obstruction.
|[https://serviceagreement.regus.com/TermsPDF/VirtualOffice/Global20250301.pdf Terms of Service]
[https://serviceagreement.regus.com/PreviewHouseRule.aspx?guidId=840179ed-c894-4e91-8ccc-3b882bcf4b38 House Rules]
[https://www.myregus.com/help#:~:text=you%20can%20give%20notice%20to%20terminate%20your%20agreement%20at%20anytime%20in%20your%20online%20account%20%2D%20but%20you%20will%20be%20charged%20until%20the%20end%20of%20your%20agreement%20term. Help Page - terminate anytime but pay everything]
|-
|[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games]
|Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone Games, and its publishing rights relinquished, citing "ongoing delays and a lack of updates from the developer". Studio Surgical Scalpels (the developer) stated that the publisher decisions were "extremely sudden and unreasonable", and attempted to "regain the rights to boundary". The game has been offline for more than a year at the time of writing, and no refunds or communications to the user base has been made by Skystone Games.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251021143111/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |archive-date=21 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Samsung Galaxy S25
|Samsung s25 ultra one ui 8.5 android 16 needs location for blue light shield even for custom schedule.
|[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Djw8iz7HWTt_uywYQywnMVDwmnBGPt_t/view?pli=1 Screenshot]
|-
|[[Sony]], Sony Online Entertainment/[[Daybreak Game Company]]
|Selling off SOE to the investment firm Columbus Nova, all games published by SOE were delisted without prior notice to consumers or developers, and licenses were revoked as well.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Shawn |date=Jun 10, 2016 |title=Akimi Village |url=https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127030103/https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|website=Delisted Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=Feb 2, 2015 |title=SOE acquired, becomes Daybreak Game Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204235742/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sony]]
|Sony implements surge pricing/discounts on a per-user basis on their playstation store by profiling users, similar to airlines, car rentals, and concert tickets... only the goods are digital only and downloadable rather than physical media. Critics are calling this Surveillance Pricing.
|<ref>https://youtu.be/t8yVc6Uarho?si=fJeCzxqmxgyB_tLq</ref>
|-
|[[Spectora]]
|Spectora is a home inspection software used by many home inspectors, a very important portion of the home buying process. Spectora has announced they intend to insert ads April 7th. The ads look like the home inspector (a independent entity) is recommending outside services. Spectora has also purchased other home inspection platform HomeGauge on April 4th. With Fixle being in the purchese which is the ad network they now own. There are also allegations (have not been proven) of sale of the inspection data (something that remains confidential with client controlling confidentiality) to insurance companies, and Home Lenders. Causing increased rates on historical inspection data even when those things could be a condition to close on the home.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forced Partnership |url=https://forum.nachi.org/t/forced-partnership/266387 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fixle by Spectora: Post-Inspection Tools for Home Buyers |url=https://www.spectora.com/fixle/?utm_campaign=41151531-2026%20Fixle%20Launch%20Campaign&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=411347418&utm_content=411347418&utm_source=hs_automation |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spectora acquires HomeGauge |url=https://coverager.com/spectora-acquires-homegauge/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Starbucks]]
|Data Breach affecting employees March 2026
|
|-
|[[Superbox]]
|Android TV box manufacturer Superbox remotely locks consumers' devices if they were sold below the manufacturer's minimum specified prices and asks consumers to contact the retailer when they complain.
They are not the first to do something like this. [[Deye]] locked down inverters in the US that they suspected might be gray imports.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=You'll Own Nothing and Be Happy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |website=YouTube |type=Video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Symantec]]
|Product: Norton Internet Security.
This one might be tough to document, because it's been slowly going on for the past 15 years. Norton used to offer a great internet security package with a ton of good and useful services for a decent price. Unfortunately, slowly over the years, they've gone further and further down the rabbit hole of charging more money for fewer and fewer features, and then locking some of those features behind even more paywalls and micro-transactions.
|
|-
|[[Steam]] by Valve software
|As of 2026 games bought to work and made for Windows 7, are no longer accessible on Windows 7 OS - A system they were made to work on and sold for. Titles that might not even work on modern Windows instalments.
This is done by forcing updates before launching of any title.
If there was a patch it will always fail before finishing update process.
Thus if user is unwilling to move to next installment of supported the operating system for whatever reason, which is not valve's decision to make. User is locked out of his purchase.
|[https://disk.yandex.com/i/ZPOVZYq11i8nJQ][https://disk.yandex.com/i/pBkHSsIhU5KqmA][https://disk.yandex.com/i/-mGVJAJHSTX-5Q][https://disk.yandex.com/i/I-NVZmXmfBrBEQ]
|-
|[[Telus]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[TriZetto]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Universal Audio]]
|Product: UAD (Volt) Audio Interfaces
Universal Audio (UAD) [[Forced account|requires users to create an account and sign in]] to their software to use their audio interfaces–this is a necessary step and without it the interfaces are unusable.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official UAD setup guide for "Volt" audio interfaces |url=https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409233546644-How-to-set-up-your-Volt-Interface}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Review of Volt 876 audio interface by Julian Krause |url=https://youtu.be/CCnttwq9jMw?si=DcwA97e3pSfp5rlr&t=803}}</ref>
|-
|[[UP3]] By [[Jawbone]]
|Approximately 2011, Pioneering startup company from San Francisco, had revolutionary fitness trackers. In 2017 with no notice to customers they stole personal data and shut down app which in turn, bricked devices. Highly likely went bankrupt and sold to sister company to manipulate customer services and rights. Now owned by Aliph brands.
|
|-
|[[Vive]]
|In 2022, Vive discontinued the original Vive Facial Tracker module a year after the original release, then released an updated model with proprietary firmware that blocked use on other 3rd party VR headset, while only allowing the new model to work with their new locked-down headset. The 2021 version of the face tracker's long term support was seemingly cut overnight without any software updates since 2021.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vive Team |date=2022-08-07 |title=VIVE Focus 3 gets Facial Tracker, and Eye Tracker |url=https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619155201/https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Vive Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=StateKi |date=2023-10-10 |title=Post by StatekTi on X |url=https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520140619/https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |archive-date=20 May 2026 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=X (Formerly Twitter)}}</ref>
|-
|Wheatstone Corporation
|Wheatstone Corporation are a manufacturer of professional broadcast equipment, mainly audio consoles and interfaces that utilise their proprietary Wheatnet audio over IP protocol.
Wheatstone restricts access to firmware updates, software configuration tools and software. You must open a support ticked in order for them to send you a download link to these software tools, they make it very difficult to access software required to make their hardware audio interfaces work, even stating they want proof of purchase (not just a licence key) before they will even give you the download link. Managing licences is also non-existent and you will need to contact support, and as such a fee is imposed.
|
|-
|White House
|The White House made a news app, but this app tracks your location every 4.5 minutes through third-party OneSignal
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deep Humor |date=2026-03-30 |title=Don't Download This App |url=https://youtu.be/d5OTwcRxaTw?si=REEdhGeYPelHGLEQ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tixon |first=Bernadette B. |date=2026-03-29 |title=White House App Found Tracking Users' Exact Location Every 4.5 Minutes via Third-Party Server |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/white-house-app-gps-tracking-controversy-1788974 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Milden |first=Dashia |date=2026-03-30 |title=I Downloaded (and Deleted) the White House App So You Don't Have To. It's a Hot Mess |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/i-downloaded-and-deleted-the-white-house-app-so-you-dont-have-to-its-a-hot-mess/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-30 |title=White House app sparks concern over location tracking and privacy issues |url=https://www.tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:565f766ef094b:0-white-house-app-sparks-concern-over-location-tracking-and-privacy-issues/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[TradingView]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[WHMCS]]
|Discontinuation of support and updates for WHMCS legacy “Owned” licenses, forcing users who want ongoing updates or technical support to switch to subscription licensing and pay recurring fees rather than continue with the original owned model. This change affects all holders of legacy owned licenses and alters the long-term terms under which those licenses were originally sold
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHMCS Knowledgebase |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/index.php/knowledgebase/70/Support-and-Updates-Expiration.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211021038/https://www.whmcs.com/members/index.php/knowledgebase/70/Support-and-Updates-Expiration.html |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Important pricing changes to your WHMCS owned license Mailer |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/mailings/?k=price21-emailo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215233549/https://www.whmcs.com/members/mailings/?k=price21-emailo |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Wireless Power Consortium]]
|After monopolizing wireless charging market Qi turned from an open standard into a proprietary.
Version 1.3 introduced "secure authentication between the transmitter and the receiver", i.e. in order to operate every charger must include an expensive proprietary chip licensed only to certified members. This results in increased development and manufacturing costs directly passed onto consumer. Version 2.2, unlike previous versions, "is available for WPC Members only".
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qi Certification Is Changing and We've Got You Covered |url=https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251104012700/https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |archive-date=4 Nov 2025|website=NXP Semiconductors}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download the Qi Specifications |url=https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251104094044/https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |archive-date=4 Nov 2025|website=Wireless Power Consortium}}</ref>
|-
|[[Wizards of the Coast]]
|Wizards of the Coast (WotC) seems to be positioning itself to move away from publishing physical books that last forever in favor of pushing digital-only sales and micro-transactions of content and subscriptions. They attempted to amend the OGL (Open Game License) to include language that would require third party authors of D&D content to give up rights to their own content, so WotC can sell it to consumers without crediting the original authors.
Notably, as a direct response to these anti-consumer activities and policies, a select few of the third party publishers have instead decided to come out with their own systems that are not beholden to WotC's whims. A couple of examples include ''Draw Steel'' and ''Daggerheart''. An earlier conflict prompted Paizo to release their own version of the classic D20-based tabletop RPG, ''Pathfinder'', when WotC started releasing the fourth edition of it's rule-set.
|
|-
|[[Wolfgang Puck]]
|Some of the bread makers have anti repair screws in them to prevent people from repairing them themselves. Needs more citations.
|
|-
|[[World Orb]]
|World Network (Sam Altman/Open AI) scheme to collect biometric data on all people. Tied to cryptocurrency, AI schemes. Supposedly way for people to show they are human (run by the people who are trying to make a profit from AI).
|
|-
|[[Zhiyun]]
|Like competing products from [[DJI]], Zhiyun video gimbals require a Chinese smartphone app, internet access and an [[Forced account|account]] to activate on first use.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=ZHIYUN Tutorials |date=25 Jul 2023 |title=ZHIYUN CRANE 2S Activation Tutorial |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CjNp6pWNoQ |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_CjNp6pWNoQ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
|}

==List of themes not yet covered==
Consumer Rights Wiki is not an encyclopedia.

*Before proposing or making a theme article, see if you can find an article that covers the topic on wikipedia, or some other reference. If you can, just use a reference to that.
*Check the list of theme articles [[:Category:common terms]], to be sure there isn't already an article on the topic, or one closely related. Sometimes a theme may be covered by generalizing an existing article.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Theme
!Summary of Theme
!Refs
|-
|Car manufacturers replacing physical controls by touch-screens
|This is increasingly common, and puts drivers at risk. Some corps pretend touchscreens are a "premium" or "modern" feature, but are typically cheaper for them
|
|-
|[[Content delivery network]] ([[CDN]])
|[[wikipedia:Content_delivery_network|WP]], see also [[Cloud (service)]]. While helpful, they can infer the browsing history of millions of users across sites. The bigger their monopoly, the more cross-site tracking power they have. Even GDPR has been against using CDNs in some situations. Examples of CDN: [[wikipedia:Amazon_CloudFront|CloudFront]] (see [[Amazon]] [[wikipedia:Amazon_Web_Services|AWS]]), [[Cloudflare]], [[Microsoft]] [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Azure|Azure]], [[wikipedia:Fastly|Fastly]], etc...
|
|-
|[[Copyright]]
*Consumer License Agreement (CLA)
|Copyright is an important theme, please mention what it covers, what are the exceptions (e.g. [[wikipedia:first-sale doctrine|first-sale doctrine]]), what laws cover it ([[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|DMCA]]), what exceptions the laws provide (e.g. panorama, see Refs column)
*Cover CLA as an incident type (example company/project [[Canonical]]/[[LXD]]), it's a form of forced contract assigning the company (source code maintainer) the copyright to open source contributions, allowing them to use them in closed source releases.
|[https://www.copyrightexceptions.eu/ CopyrightExceptions.eu]
*[https://drewdevault.com/blog/Dont-sign-a-CLA-2/ Seriously, don't sign a CLA]
*[https://stgraber.org/2023/12/12/lxd-now-re-licensed-and-under-a-cla/ LXD now re-licensed and under a CLA]
|}

==List of companies doing the right thing==
It would be helpful to include examples of companies doing the right thing, even if they aren't, strictly speaking, consumer products.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Good deed
!Refs
|-
|APSystems
|After requests from users, the company released a firmware update that adds a local API to their EZ-1M solar micro inverter, allowing it to remain fully usable if the company ends support for the device
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=APsystems EZHI Local API User Manual |url=https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107061040/https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |archive-date=7 Nov 2025|website=global.apsystems.com}}</ref>
|-
|Concept2
|Readily provides parts and diagrams. Exists under a [https://www.concept2.com/about/perpetual-purpose-trust Perpetual Purpose Trust].
|
|-
|Core Devices (from creator of Pebble Smartwatches)
|Not strictly Core Devices, but when Pebble was sold to Fitbit, the servers remained online for some time, and the Pebble app was updated to allow the Rebble community project to take over some of the Pebble server-side functionality. All backers of the upcoming Pebble 2 series of watches were refunded in full, despite it being a crowd-funding campaign.
Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit and after many years, Google released much of the Pebble Smart Watch source code on github (excluding proprietary libraries). Core Devices and Rebble replaced the usage of the proprietary libraries with open source alternatives, and released new Android and iOS apps, not only supporting the new core devices, but bringing updated support to legacy Pebble devices.
|
|-
|Fairphone
|The new Fairphones (5th and 6th generation) are availible with stock android as well as e/os, which is a fork of lineage os and a european alternative cloud provider (murena) instead of google. This has many privacy features (app tracker blocker, tor network usage, and gps spoofing) availible in a few clicks. Also degoogle apps (microg, safetynet, ...) are preinstalled therefore it is w´possible to install everything also from playstore with an anonymous account. As e/os is a fork of lineage os and there is an official guide to flash the fairphone with e/os and is officially supported, flashing lineage os is very easy.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-24 |title=How to manually install Android on your Fairphone |url=https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/18896094650513-How-to-manually-install-Android-on-your-Fairphone |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fairphone (Gen. 6) with privacy first /e/OS |url=https://shop.fairphone.com/the-fairphone-gen-6-e-operating-system |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|Framework
|They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for most of their products. They also support right to repair themselves.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainability |url=https://frame.work/sustainability |url-status=live |website=[[Framework]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Framework Laptop 13 Repair |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Framework_Laptop |url-status=live |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref>
|-
|Home Assistant
|Open-source smart home platform that provides local control, automation, and interoperability for a wide range of smart home devices. Provides support for many cloud devices after they're subject to [[discontinuation bricking]].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129222300/https://www.home-assistant.io/ |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Noctua
|Extremely long support for old products and availability of upgrade kits
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |date=19 Feb 2026 |title=The Last CPU Cooler You Will Ever Buy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Numatic International
|A UK based manufacture of commercial and consumer wet/dry floor cleaning products (vacuums, scrubbers, floor buffers) that provides a robust library of technical documents, parts breakdowns, data sheets and training for free on both new and existing products without the need to login, pay additional fees or be an approved repair facility.
|
|-
|Oral-B
|When installing the Android App, there is no login, and the user is asked for analytics tracking consent.
|
|-
|Orange Pi (Shenzhen Xunlong Software Co., Ltd.)
|Commitment to Open Source Hardware and Transparency. (written with help of AI)
Public Schematics, Open Documentation (extensive datasheets for the SoCs), Right to Repair Friendly by using standardized components and providing the "map" (schematics) to the board. Community-Centric: hey actively support the "maker" ecosystem by allowing third-party OS developers (like Armbian) easy access to the hardware information needed to keep older boards running for a decade or more.
|http://www.orangepi.org/index.html
http://www.orangepi.org/html/serviceAndSupport/index.html
|-
|Philips
|Added files for replacement parts to Printables so you can 3D print parts for your Philips products
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philips |url=https://www.printables.com/@Philips |url-status=live |website=Printables}}</ref>
|-
|ratgdo
|A garage door opener controller developed by Paul Wieland, allowing you to locally control it (namely Chamberlain openers that would otherwise require the MyQ app for smart home features).
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wieland |first=Paul |title=About - ratgdo |url=https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213022055/https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Reticulum
|Reticulum is an open-source, decentralized networking stack designed to communicate between practically any wireless device, even without internet. Its purpose is to provide fully anonymous end-to-end encrypted communication by default, especially in the age of government surveillance. The Reticulum network, protocol, and hardware are not tied any company in particular but were initially created by Github user 'markqvist'. Honorable mention to NomadNet, which is a network of nodes that serve webpages, similar to the internet, that communicate via Reticulum.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=markqvist |title=Reticulum Network |url=https://reticulum.network/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Reticulum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222180553/https://reticulum.network/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|RME Audio
|Audio equipment manufacturer that provides reliable, high-quality audio interfaces and equipment with driver and firmware support that spans 15+ years. Extensive documentation and support for both Mac, Windows, and USB Class-Compliant machines on all of their products across several OS generations ensures compatibility, transparency, and a dedication for keeping old hardware alive.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME Downloads |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/downloads.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref>
|-
|stevesgames.co.uk
|Will never put ads or in-app purchases in their computer games and will make gamees available for free after securing the companys future.
|
|-
|Sweetwater Sound
|The largest US-focused audio and music retailer that offers one of the best customer support systems to customers. Provides near 24x7 support with each customer being designated to a dedicated "sales engineer" who becomes the primary point of contact, with support networks that have direct contact to product vendors. Also contributes to more than 600 non-profits across the US. Also keeps outdated or obsolete product pages online as references, acting as a sort of music product database for most audio vendors.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Apr 2026 |title=Why Choose Sweetwater? |url=https://www.sweetwater.com/about/why-choose-sweetwater/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 Apr 2026 |website=Sweetwater.com}}</ref>
|-
|Tektronix
|Provided extensive product data on unsupported products to a museum, vintageTEK, and thus to tekwiki and the rest of the community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenihan |first=Thomas F. |date=2012-02-28 |title=Copyright Notice |url=https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828004431/https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |archive-date=2025-08-28 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=vintageTEK museum}}</ref>
|-
|Ulanzi
|The company offers a tutorial on how users can mix their own fog juice to use with Ulanzi mini fog machines from readily available low-cost ingredients, whereas competitors sell proprietary fog juice at extortionate prices, refuse to release the formula and refuse to honour the warranty if users use anything but the OEM brand with their machines.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutorial {{!}} How to DIY Ulanzi FM01 Fog Machine Juice? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM |type=Video}} ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM Archived])</ref>
|-
|ZSA
|This company produces programmable ergonomic keyboards. They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for one of their keyboards <ref>{{Cite web |title=ErgoDox EZ Keyboard Repairability Assessment |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/ErgoDox+EZ+Keyboard+Repairability+Assessment/125077}}</ref>. They also support right to repair themselves <ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting the Right to Repair |url=https://blog.zsa.io/2105-right-to-repair/}}</ref>. They have their own web software to modify keyboard layout <ref>{{Cite web |title=Voyager default layout |url=https://configure.zsa.io/voyager/layouts/default/latest/2}}</ref>, but it's possible to download source code of your layout and compile and flash it yourself using their fork of the QMK <ref>{{Cite web |title=QMK, forked for ZSA's Oryx Configurator (to safeguard stability) |url=https://github.com/zsa/qmk_firmware/}}</ref>. The flashing can be done with standard tools, without any signing and bootloader unlocking.
|
|}

==See also==
*[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]]
*[[Other Channels - Video Directory|Other Channels - Video Directory]]

==Reference List==
<references />

Apple

2026-06-03T15:11:52Z

Neige: Pentalobe anti repair screw

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1976
|Industry=Electronics
|Logo=Apple logo (black).svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://apple.com/
|Description=Tech company known for hardware, software, and operating systems. Has repeatedly restricted device repairs, and exerts strict control over its software ecosystem
|CompanyAlias= Apple, Inc
}}

{{Wplink|Apple Inc.|'''Apple'''}} is an American technology company that was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. It is best known for its consumer electronics, software, and services.

Apple's current product lineup include iPhones hardware such as the [[:Category:iPhone|iPhone]], iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, [[AirPods]], and Apple TV; operating systems such as iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and macOS; and various software and services including Apple Pay, iCloud, Apple Arcade, and multimedia streaming services like Apple Music and [[Apple TV+]].

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Repairability of Apple products in the 2000s===
Since the 2000s, Apple has focused on reducing the weight of its products as technology has advanced and become increasingly complex. This shift has contributed to challenges in repairing and upgrading their devices.

===Hardware design issues in the 2010s===
Apple had numerous hardware design issues in the 2010s, often poorly acknowledged by the company and frequently charging exorbitant amounts for repair.

*High-cost GPU failures on early 2010's MacBooks<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-28 |title=Apple faces class-action lawsuit over 2011 MacBook Pro GPU issues |url=https://9to5mac.com/2014/10/28/apple-class-action-lawsuit-2011-macbook-pro-gpu-graphics-issues/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251010222822/https://9to5mac.com/2014/10/28/apple-class-action-lawsuit-2011-macbook-pro-gpu-graphics-issues/ |archive-date=2025-10-10 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=9to5mac}}</ref>
*the 2016-'17 MacBook Pro's screen cable skimping scandal<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=2019-05-05 |title=Apple quietly addressed ‘Flexgate’ issue with MacBook Pro redesign |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/5/18251264/macbook-pro-2018-flexgate-fix-display-cable-2mm-longer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251224195648/https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/5/18251264/macbook-pro-2018-flexgate-fix-display-cable-2mm-longer |archive-date=2025-12-24 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
*2016-2019 MacBooks butterfly keyboards<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bohn |first=Dieter |date=2020-05-04 |title=The saga of Apple’s bad butterfly MacBook keyboards is finally over |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/4/21246223/macbook-keyboard-butterfly-magic-pro-apple-design |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128222108/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/4/21246223/macbook-keyboard-butterfly-magic-pro-apple-design |archive-date=2026-01-28 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
*the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro's SSD failures<ref>{{Cite web |last=digilloyd |date=2020-04-03 |title=2019 MacBook Pro Seems to Have a High Failure Rate |url=https://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2020/20200403_1024-MacBookPro2019-repairs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708181056/https://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2020/20200403_1024-MacBookPro2019-repairs.html |archive-date=2025-07-08 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Mac Performance Guide}}</ref>
*The announcement and cancellation of Apple AirPower<ref>{{Cite web |last=Panzarino |first=Matthew |title=Apple cancels AirPower product, citing inability to meet its high standards for hardware |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/29/apple-cancels-airpower-product-citing-inability-to-meet-its-high-standards-for-hardware/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401040644/https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/29/apple-cancels-airpower-product-citing-inability-to-meet-its-high-standards-for-hardware/ |archive-date=2019-04-01 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clover |first=Juli |date=2018-09-12 |title=After No Sign of AirPower at Today's Event Apple Wipes Most Mentions From Website |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/12/no-sign-of-airpower-at-september-event/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124170507/https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/12/no-sign-of-airpower-at-september-event/ |archive-date=2021-11-24 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=MacRumors}}</ref> due to overheating{{CitationNeeded|reason=no archived article mentioning overheating specifically}}

====Recent attempts to do better====
Recently, Apple has made efforts to improve its products, though some observers feel that its pro-consumer practices still do not match those of certain other manufacturers. This shift is thought by some to be influenced by evolving legislation.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=2022-10-26 |title=Apple to put USB-C connectors in iPhones to comply with EU rules |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/26/iphone-usb-c-lightning-connectors-apple-eu-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212030935/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/26/iphone-usb-c-lightning-connectors-apple-eu-rules |archive-date=2026-02-12 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> 

This includes:

*Opening an online [[Apple Self Service Repair|Self Service Repair]] parts store.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-17 |title=Apple announces Self Service Repair |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/11/apple-announces-self-service-repair/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203201914/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/11/apple-announces-self-service-repair/ |archive-date=2026-02-03 |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=Apple Newsroom}}</ref>
*Making the back glass of iPhones removable starting from iPhone 14.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiens |first=Kyle |date=2022-09-16 |title=Inside Apple’s Secret iPhone 14 Redesign |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/64865/iphone-14-teardown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116032657/https://www.ifixit.com/News/64865/iphone-14-teardown |archive-date=2026-01-16 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=iFixIt}}</ref>
*Allowing alternative app stores in an update to iOS 17, in compliance with new EU legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installing apps through alternative app distribution in the European Union |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/117767 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223191001/https://support.apple.com/en-us/117767 |archive-date=2025-12-23 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=support.apple.com}}</ref>
*Calibration tools for newly installed used parts in iOS 18,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Use Repair Assistant to finish an iPhone or iPad repair |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/120579 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208125243/https://support.apple.com/en-us/120579 |archive-date=2026-02-08 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=support.apple.com}}</ref> which sometimes work.{{CitationNeeded}}
*An upgradeable, swappable SSD in the 2024 Mac Mini - albeit you cannot swap these units between M4 and M4 Pro units due to the internal casing's design being different without much good reason.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sorrel |first=Charlie |date=2024-11-12 |title=All Hail the Return of Upgradeable Storage! Mac mini 2024 Teardown |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/104302/all-hail-the-return-of-upgradeable-storage-mac-mini-2024-teardown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251116041530/https://www.ifixit.com/News/104302/all-hail-the-return-of-upgradeable-storage-mac-mini-2024-teardown |archive-date=2025-11-16 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=iFixit}}</ref>
*A battery removable with just a 9V battery in the 2024 iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iPhone 16 Plus Battery |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/120671 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018203540/https://support.apple.com/en-us/120671 |archive-date=2025-10-18 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=support.apple.com}}</ref>
Many of these items have sparked allegations of [[malicious compliance]] and being introduced purely to make stricter right for repair legislation appear unnecessary to legislators while not doing much to improve the situation for consumers. 

For instance, pricing for parts on the [[Apple Self Service Repair|Self Service Repair]] store is virtually identical to having the part replaced by Apple themselves (including both the price of the part and labor)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganapini |first=Cristina |date=2022-12-06 |title=Apple’s self-repair programme is not the Right to Repair we need |url=https://repair.eu/news/apples-self-repair-programme-is-not-the-right-to-repair-we-need/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209051628/https://repair.eu/news/apples-self-repair-programme-is-not-the-right-to-repair-we-need/ |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=Right to Repair Europe}}</ref>, alternate app installation options are limited to users in the EU, still [[Forced account|require developers to be registered]] with Apple, have them approve the apps and in many cases paying them fees, and the upgradeable SSDs do not use common standards such as M.2 NVME. Unlike standard SSDs, they are also not always swappable between different models and require access to a second Apple computer to provision after installation.

===Operating system downgrades===
[[File:Macos startup security.png|alt=macOS startup security screen|thumb|macOS startup security screen]]
It is not possible to upgrade or downgrade an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, etc. to an Operating System (OS) version that is no longer signed by Apple. In most cases, only the most recent version is signed. Some exceptions exist, such as certain Apple TV models and Apple Silicon Macs. Downgrading the Apple TV 4K series is not possible at all due to the lack of a USB port. On Macs with a T2 chip, the user can select from three modes of [[secure boot]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Startup Security Utility on a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102522 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607083624/https://support.apple.com/en-us/102522 |archive-date=7 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=Apple}}</ref>

*No Security: Allow any OS to run (same as turning off secure boot on a PC).
*Medium Security: Allow any OS that is signed with a secure boot certificate (default, same as turning on secure boot on a PC).
*Full Security: Only allow the latest version of macOS, do not allow any other OS.

On Macs with Apple Silicon, the user can select from two modes of secure boot:

*Permissive Security: Accessible only via recovery Terminal tools (and still enforces Apple’s secure chain for much of the boot). This is the lowest available security policy on Apple silicon but does not remove secure boot entirely in the way “No Security” used to.
*Reduced Security: Allows booting older versions of macOS trusted by Apple but still enforces signed OS policy.
*Full Security: Only the currently signed macOS version trusted by Apple can boot.

iOS devices only support Full Security mode. The device checks for a cryptographic "ticket",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=APTicket |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/APTicket |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216234725/https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/APTicket |archive-date=2026-02-16 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=theapplewiki.com}}</ref> which are tied to the OS version and CPU serial number. These are provided by a server, which only provides them for the latest version (with very specific exceptions). The device refuses to boot if the ticket does not match. Workarounds exist, but with major caveats that are not viable for most users,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-27 |title=Firmware rendering |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Firmware_downgrading |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251021213054/https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Firmware_downgrading |archive-date=2025-10-21 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=theapplewiki.com}}</ref> see the technical details on [[wikipedia:SHSH_blob|SHSH blobs]].

===Class action lawsuit===
Apple was the defendant of a class-action lawsuit with claims dating back to 2017 where users noticed their phones were being artificially slowed down. Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit for up to $500 million USD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Gael |date=9 Jan 2024 |title=Apple Starts Sending Out iPhone 'Batterygate' Settlement Payments. What to Know |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-starts-sending-out-iphone-batterygate-settlement-payments-what-to-know/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321051703/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-starts-sending-out-iphone-batterygate-settlement-payments-what-to-know/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=CNET}}</ref> Apple claimed that this change was to benefit users who have old failing batteries, and that it wasn't for planned obsolescence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Napolitano |first=Elizabeth |date=2023-08-18 |title=Millions of Apple customers to get payments of up to $90 in iPhone "batterygate" settlement. Here's what to know. |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-iphone-payment-500-million-settlement-what-to-know/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228042055/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-iphone-payment-500-million-settlement-what-to-know/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025|website=CBS News}}</ref> They later published software updates and an article explaining how users can opt out of this new "performance management" mode.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iPhone battery and performance |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/101575 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618231138/https://support.apple.com/en-us/101575 |archive-date=18 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=Apple}}</ref>

Once a new OS version is installed, there is no opportunity to go back. This also restricts the user's choice to {{Wplink|iOS jailbreaking|jailbreak}} the device, as the latest version naturally has patches for the latest jailbreak exploits. App developers also require access to earlier iOS versions to test that their app works correctly. The alternative, Xcode's iOS Simulator, is not a complete replacement for real hardware, as it does not have all features of a physical device.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vajpai |first=Shreeti |date=24 Jun 2024 |title=iOS Emulators / Simulators vs Real iOS Devices |url=https://contextqa.com/test-on-ios-emulators-simulators/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250519081214/https://contextqa.com/test-on-ios-emulators-simulators/ |archive-date=19 May 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=ContextQA}}</ref> Instead, app developers are forced to purchase several test devices, and remember to ''never'' allow them to update.

===Parts availability===
Many parts are not available directly from Apple. Those that are available directly from Apple may be more expensive than paying Apple to repair your device.{{CitationNeeded|reason=add citation with proof of this}} Parts available to certified repair centers are extremely limited.{{CitationNeeded|reason=proof if possible}} Apple does not stock current generation iPad parts within GSX (See Certified Repair Centers). A limited selection of iPad parts are available from iFixit, however this can exclude some flex PCBs necessary for repairing headphone jacks.{{CitationNeeded|reason=proof if possible}}

If an Apple iPhone has GPS calibration issues and or {{Wplink|Bluetooth}} connectivity issues, Apple will do their own diagnostics. You explain to the Apple employee how and when the issues occur and you explain in detail your methods to reproduce the issues. The issues occur when your phone is in your pocket while using navigation and when you hold your phone upside down while using your Apple Beats wireless headphones. After Apple runs their diagnostics and they are not able to detect the issues, they will move onto the next step which is fully resetting your device. This is considered a standard troubleshooting procedure. When you ask the Apple store manager if they would be willing to exchange your device for a similar model if they cannot fix your device they respond with "No, because these phones are designed to be fixed". After the software reset fail, Apple will require you to leave your phone with them so they can send it to their offsite repair facility for further diagnostics. After a few days, Apple will come to the conclusion that your phone requires an entire new midsection. When asked what was replaced, Apple will inform you that the entire inside has been replaced — essentially giving you a new phone (with a new IMEI, EID, etc.) apart from the casing and screen. {{CitationNeeded}}

=== Pentalobe proprietary screws ===
Apple introduced pentalobe screws on the MacBook Pro in 2009, replacing standard Phillips screws with a five-lobed design not found in any standard toolkit. iFixit condemned the switch in January 2011, calling it a deliberate barrier to repair. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiens |first=Kyle |date=20 January 2011 |title=Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/14279/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260424161945/https://www.ifixit.com/News/14279/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone |archive-date=24 April 2026 |access-date=3 June 2026 |website=IFIXIT}}</ref>

===Diagnostic software availability===
Calibration software for some Apple devices has only recently become available to end users. End user calibration tools have only become accessible in iOS 18. Similar calibration tools have been available to Certified Repair Centers, but are generally limited as many parts are serialized, i.e. lid sensors on MacBooks. {{CitationNeeded}}

===Certified repair centers===
Certified Repair Centers have some limited access to Apple's proprietary backend (GSX2). GSX contains many tools necessary to repair devices such as diagnostic tools, calibration tools, parts catalog, and device repair history. GSX is only accessible to repair centers Apple deems certified. GSX does not stock parts for iPads. It does not allow the calibration of parts such as lid sensors for a device, if that device does not have an open repair and purchased parts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 Jan 2017 |title=GSX - How to Gain GSX Apple Access - iOSGenius |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy8bS1AgxcY |url-status=live}}</ref> {{CitationNeeded|reason=add an archive and properly cite this}}The new iOS 18 calibration tool is very similar to Apple's ASU (GSX's diagnostic/calibration tool). Some videos of GSX can be found online. See: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy8bS1AgxcY GSX - How to Gain GSX Apple Access - iOSGenius]

===Advertisements in first party apps===
In 2014, Apple and the band U2 partnered to give all iTunes users a free digital copy of their newest album at the time, ''Songs of Innocence'', which was marketed as "the biggest album release ever in history".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/09/09Apple-U2-Release-Songs-of-Innocence-Exclusively-for-iTunes-Store-Customers/|title=Apple & U2 Release “Songs of Innocence” Exclusively for iTunes Store Customers|date=2014-09-09|work=Apple Newsroom|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405230217/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/09/09Apple-U2-Release-Songs-of-Innocence-Exclusively-for-iTunes-Store-Customers/|archive-date=2025-04-05|url-status=live}}</ref> Many users who didn't want the album couldn't remove it from their iTunes library due to the album being listed as a "past purchase" on their account (however the album could always be "hidden").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/09/apples-devious-u2-album-giveaway-even-worse-spam/|title=Apple's Devious U2 Album Giveaway Is Even Worse Than Spam|date=2014-09-16|first=Vijith|last=Assar|work=WIRED|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530112829/https://www.wired.com/2014/09/apples-devious-u2-album-giveaway-even-worse-spam/|archive-date=2025-05-30|url-status=live}}</ref> Some reports speculated the deal was worth 100 million dollars and was done due to the band's declining popularity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/15/348612823/apples-u2-album-promotion-backfires|title=Apple's U2 Album Promotion Backfires|first=Nathan|last=Rott|date=2014-09-15|work=NPR|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601154245/https://www.npr.org/2014/09/15/348612823/apples-u2-album-promotion-backfires|archive-date=2025-06-01|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, Bono, a member of U2, wrote in his memoir how Tim Cook reportedly said how "there’s something not right about giving [U2's] art away for free" and "the whole point of what we’re trying to do at Apple is to not give away music free. The point is to make sure musicians get paid".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2022/10/24/tim-cook-said-free-u2-album-itunes-was-not-right/|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook thought U2 putting its album on your iPhone was ‘not right’—even though he did it anyway|first=Tristan|last=Bove|date=2022-10-24|work=Fortune|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127191141/https://fortune.com/2022/10/24/tim-cook-said-free-u2-album-itunes-was-not-right/|archive-date=2025-01-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2025, Apple added a promotional offer for F1 The Movie in their Wallet application.<ref>{{Cite web |title=F1 The Movie - News |url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/f1/news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251109164811/https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/f1/news/ |archive-date=2025-11-09 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Apple TV+ Press}}</ref> Users have mentioned how this could violate Apple's own policy on advertising, how the high price of Apple devices shouldn't justify first party ads, and the annoyance of seeing it.<ref>{{Cite web |author=u/african-nightmare |date=2025-06-24 |title=Getting ads in Apple Wallet, how to disable? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1ljfs7u/getting_ads_in_apple_wallet_how_to_disable/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725194601/https://old.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1ljfs7u/getting_ads_in_apple_wallet_how_to_disable/ |archive-date=2025-07-25 |access-date=2025-06-25 |work=Reddit}}</ref> For users on the iOS 26 beta, there is an option to disable "Offers & Promotions", with users on iOS 18 needing to disable notifications completely for the Wallet app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/24/iphone-customers-upset-by-apple-wallet-ad-pushing-f1-movie/|title=iPhone customers upset by Apple Wallet ad pushing ‘F1’ movie|first=Sarah|last=Perez|date=2025-06-24|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624213223/https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/24/iphone-customers-upset-by-apple-wallet-ad-pushing-f1-movie/|archive-date=2025-06-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (1).jpg|Notification of the offer
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (2).jpg|Home screen of Wallet app
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (3).jpg|Apple Cash card screen
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (4).png|Screen when selecting "learn more"
</gallery>

===AirDrop censorship (''2022'')===
{{Main|AirDrop Hong Kong censorship}}
[[File:AirDrop restrictions.png|alt=Airdrop Sharing Restrictions photo|thumb|Airdrop Sharing Restrictions]]
As a result of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, Apple was pressured by the Chinese government to set a time limit for the AirDrop "everyone" option for iPhones due to its impact at scheduling protests against the government to avoid censorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/10/23450967/apple-airdrop-limited-china-goverment-protests|title=Apple limits AirDrop in China after its use in protests|first=Jess|last=Weatherbed|date=2022-11-10|work=The Verge|access-date=2025-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723112204/https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/10/23450967/apple-airdrop-limited-china-goverment-protests|archive-date=2025-07-23|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, the setting was applied to all iPhones worldwide to "mitigate unwanted file sharing", meaning users will need to set their airdrop setting manually every ten minutes instead of leaving it on permanently, leaving the only other options as "contacts only" and "receiving off".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/17/apple-globally-censoring-this-iphone-communication-feature-deserves-renewed-scrutiny/|title=Apple globally censoring this iPhone communication feature deserves renewed scrutiny|first=Zac|last=Hall|date=2025-03-17|work=9To5Mac|access-date=2025-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723142521/https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/17/apple-globally-censoring-this-iphone-communication-feature-deserves-renewed-scrutiny/|archive-date=2025-07-23|url-status=live}}</ref>

==="Peanuts" TV Special Takeover===
In late October of 2020, Apple announced that its Apple TV+ service had become the exclusive home of the library of classic ''Peanuts'' animated specials, including ''A Charlie Brown Christmas'', ''It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'', and ''A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving''. For almost 50 years, these beloved specials were shown once a year on free over-the-air TV, but as of 2020, anybody who wishes to watch them is now required to own a device that offers the Apple TV+ service and an active Apple TV+ subscription.<ref>{{cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |date=2020-10-19 |title=Apple TV+ Says: Welcome, Great Pumpkin |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown-streaming-apple-tv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251208132132/https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown-streaming-apple-tv.html |archive-date=2025-12-08 |access-date=2025-11-05 |work=Vulture}}</ref>

===2024 Antitrust Lawsuit===
In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming that the "closed garden" ecosystem Apple creates surrounding its iPhones stifles competition and innovation. The lawsuit alleges that Apple is directly forcing customers to purchase and use iPhones and their accessories and software in several ways:

*Forcing mobile carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to offer its best customer deals exclusively to those who purchase iPhones.
*Restricting the functionality of Super apps such as WeChat.
*Forcing in-app purchases through applications such as Fortnite to be made within the App Store and taking a part of the proceeds as commission pay.
*Restricting the use of third-party digital wallets and requiring users to exclusively use Apple Pay.
*Restricting how third-party message apps can interact with iMessage.
*Restricting their HomeKit home automation system and all compatible devices to work only on Apple's products and issuing cease & desist orders against emulators designed to make HomeKit compatible with third-party products.
*Restricting compatibility of third party smart watches.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=U.S and Plaintiff States v. Apple Inc. |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/case/us-and-plaintiff-states-v-apple-inc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260221190000/https://www.justice.gov/atr/case/us-and-plaintiff-states-v-apple-inc |archive-date=2026-02-21 |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=United States Department of Justice}}</ref>{{CitationNeeded|reason=make sure the source beside this is the actual antitrust case.}}

Apple is expected to go to trial in early 2027.<ref>{{cite web |last=Liedtke |first=Michael |date=2025-06-30 |title=Judge allows antitrust lawsuit against Apple to proceed |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-case-justice-department-664c187d7d09d57460076c7aa2f0c0bf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260205235908/https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-case-justice-department-664c187d7d09d57460076c7aa2f0c0bf |archive-date=2026-02-05 |access-date=2025-07-14 |work=Associated Press}}</ref>

===European Union USB-C Directive 2022/2380===
As part of Directive (EU) 2022/2380, the [[European Union]] mandated that all smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, and other portable electronic devices must utilize USB-C as a universal charging standard by the end of 2024, with laptops following by 2026. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-07 |title=Directive (EU) 2022/2380 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 amending Directive 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment (Text with EEA relevance) |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022L2380 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817091803/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022L2380 |archive-date=2025-08-17 |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=EUR-Lex}}</ref>

This regulatory measure directly addresses consumer frustration with incompatible chargers types and aims to significantly reduce electronic waste. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-28 |title=USB-C-Standard: Schluss mit dem Kabelwirrwarr |url=https://www.zdfheute.de/wirtschaft/ladekabel-usb-c-standard-apple-entsorgung-elektroschrott-100.html |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=zdfheute |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215214259/https://www.zdfheute.de/wirtschaft/ladekabel-usb-c-standard-apple-entsorgung-elektroschrott-100.html |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> The legislation allows manufacturers to unbundle chargers from devices, potentially saving consumers money, and ensures charging speed harmonization across compatible devices.

While Apple initially opposed the standardization, arguing that it would "stifle innovation rather than encourage it," the company ultimately conceded defeat, with Apple's head of marketing stating "we have no choice" regarding compliance. <ref name=":2" />

===European Digital Markets Act===
{{Main|Digital Markets Act}}
This law forced many companies including Apple to change the way they operate to create a fairer competition.

====Changes Apple introduced iOS and iPadOS to comply with this law:====

*Introduced the ability to install applications from alternative marketplaces
*asks which browser and search engine should be the default one
*Developers now are allowed to publish in the EU browsers that do not use webkit

====Controversies:====

*Apple removed iPhone torrenting app iTorrent from alternative marketplace AltStore PAL, developer said that the access was revoked "without any warning". In a statement to The Verge, Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian said, “Notarization for this app was removed in order to comply with government sanctions-related rules in various jurisdictions. We have communicated this to the developer.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=August 28, 2025 |title=Apple pulls iPhone torrent app from AltStore PAL in Europe |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/767344/apple-removes-itorrent-altstore-pal-ios-marketplace |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903102041/https://www.theverge.com/news/767344/apple-removes-itorrent-altstore-pal-ios-marketplace |archive-date=September 3, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

===Elon Musk Lawsuit===
In August of 2025, businessman [[Elon Musk]] accused Apple of engaging in anti-competitive practices by only allowing OpenAI’s [[ChatGPT]] to reach the top of the sales chart on Apple App Store. He announced his plan to sue Apple for this practice.<ref>{{cite web |last=Durden |first=Tyler |date=2025-08-12 |title=Musk Accuses Apple Of "Unequivocal Antitrust Violation" For Favoring OpenAI In App Store Rankings |url=https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/musk-accuses-apple-unequivocal-antitrust-violation-favoring-openai-app-store-rankings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251029051235/https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/musk-accuses-apple-unequivocal-antitrust-violation-favoring-openai-app-store-rankings |archive-date=2025-10-29 |access-date=2025-08-14 |work=ZeroHedge}}</ref> 

===Greenwashing===
Apple claims to be environmentally friendly and invests significant amounts of funds in corresponding PR campaigns,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environment {{!}} Mother Nature |url=https://www.apple.com/environment/mother-nature/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250928112101/https://www.apple.com/environment/mother-nature/ |archive-date=2025-09-28 |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Apple}}</ref>  but the reality is not quite as green.

Customers are lead to think that their purchases and frequent replacement of their devices do not have a negative impact on the environment, which is not the case.

In autumn of 2025, stricter EU regulations on misleading marketing claims and a lawsuit by German environmental and consumer protection non-profit organization ''Deutsche Umwelthilfe'' have forced Apple to remove their claim of carbon neutrality on several products on their EU websites. Affected products include the Apple Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 11.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwan |first=Ben |date=2025-11-26 |title=Wegen EU-Regeln: Apple zieht Klimaneutralitäts-Claim zurück [Due to EU regulations: Apple retracts claim of climate neutrality] |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Wegen-EU-Regeln-Apple-zieht-Klimaneutralitaets-Claim-zurueck-10711532.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129120129/https://www.heise.de/news/Wegen-EU-Regeln-Apple-zieht-Klimaneutralitaets-Claim-zurueck-10711532.html |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>

====Green energy pooling====
Apple shares manufacturing capacity at Chinese/Taiwanese companies FoxConn and Pegatron with other companies. If Apple uses a hypothetical 20% of their manufacturing capacity, and company B, C, D, and E also each take up 20%, and the company doing the manufacturing runs on 20% renewably generated energy, now Apple as well as companies B, C, D, and E will each publicly claim that their manufacturing runs 100% on renewable energy. In other words, each company will claim the 20% renewable energy was used for ''their'' production.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gieselmann |first=Hartmut |date=2023 |title=Von wegen CO2-neutral – Umweltexperten werfen Apple Greenwashing vor |url=https://www.heise.de/select/ct/2023/23/2326512021124424489 |journal=c't Magazin für Computertechnik [Germany] |volume=2023 |issue=23 |pages=49 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251104112550/https://www.heise.de/select/ct/2023/23/2326512021124424489 |archive-date=2025-11-04}}</ref>

====CO<small>2</small> Certificates and forest projects====
…

====The packaging trick====
Apple, like many companies, regularly emphasises how environmentally friendly their packaging is and highlight advancements in this area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple 2030 – We’ve reduced our emissions by over 60% |url=https://www.apple.com/environment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250910014941/https://www.apple.com/environment/ |archive-date=2025-09-10 |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Apple}}</ref>

This deliberately distracts from the fact that only a negligible fraction of the environmental footprint of an electronic device comes from the packaging, as it is made of significant amounts or rare earth minerals, metals and mined components and consuming vast amounts of energy, water and fuel in manufacturing and transport.

Some of the environmental advancements touted by Apple could also be argued to be environmentally beneficial side effects of purely economic decisions aimed at maximizing profit, such as shipping iPhones without chargers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dragan |first=Lauren |date=2023-09-12 |title=iPhones No Longer Come With a Charger or Headphones. Here’s What to Get If You Need Them. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/iphone-12-charger-headphones-options/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250731104206/https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/iphone-12-charger-headphones-options/ |archive-date=2025-07-31 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

====Shredding vast amounts of fully functional devices====
In 2020, it came to light that Apple had filed a lawsuit against a recycling company, revealing that 100,000 iPhones had been illegitimately shipped to China to be sold there instead of being shredded as had been agreed with Apple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=2024-04-24 |title=100,000 iPhones stolen instead of scrapped; Apple accused of shredding usable devices |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/18/100000-iphones-stolen-instead-of-scrapped/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725022423/https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/18/100000-iphones-stolen-instead-of-scrapped/ |archive-date=2025-07-25 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=9to5mac}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrique |first=Felicitas |date=2020-10-04 |title=Apple sues recycling partner for reselling more than 100,000 iPhones, iPads, and Watches it was hired to dismantle |url=https://www.theverge.com/apple/2020/10/4/21499422/apple-sues-recycling-company-reselling-ipods-ipads-watches |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101232447/https://www.theverge.com/apple/2020/10/4/21499422/apple-sues-recycling-company-reselling-ipods-ipads-watches |archive-date=2026-01-01 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

These devices were likely trade-in devices from people who received a discount on a new model in exchange. Bloomberg News writes, referring to the contract with the recycler:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Austin |date=2024-04-18 |title=What Really Happens When You Trade In an iPhone at the Apple Store |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-04-18/apple-iphone-recycling-program-has-secrets |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250829001431/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-04-18/apple-iphone-recycling-program-has-secrets |archive-date=29 Aug 2025|access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Bloomberg}}</ref><blockquote>Even if the iPhones looked good enough for resale, Apple Inc.’s contract with GEEP (said with a hard “g”) explicitly required that every product it sent be destroyed.</blockquote>Used iPhone that are sold on the used market are a direct competition to new sales by Apple.

Apple likely does not want the public to know about these processes, since security seems to be tight around the shredding process:<blockquote>In some cases, Apple hired outside security consultants to escort trucks to its recyclers and monitor the destruction process, which the tech giant could further analyze through data reports charting scrap weights and commodity yields to ensure the input matched the output.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Austin |date=2025-03-17 |title=Apple Drops Lawsuit Against Recycler in Mystery of Missing iPhones |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-17/apple-drops-lawsuit-against-recycler-in-mystery-of-missing-iphones |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250829001416/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-17/apple-drops-lawsuit-against-recycler-in-mystery-of-missing-iphones |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Bloomberg News}}</ref></blockquote>Apple later retreated the lawsuit,<ref name=":1" /> leading to speculation that it wanted to avoid having to disclose how many devices they are really having shredded. 

====iPhone recycling robot initiative====
The first iteration of Apple's iPhone recycling robot, designed for the iPhone 6, was never more than a publicity stunt, according to an article by Bloomberg:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>Liam’s precision automation, however, proved a dead end. It could handle just one iPhone model, and not that well. If a device had corroded screws or sticky insides, the robot would glitch. A person familiar with the project estimates Liam could run for about 10 minutes without human intervention. Another person says Apple at times fed the robot still-functioning iPhones and, for media demos, cherry-picked cleaner units so it didn’t crash, suggesting Liam was geared more for promotion than scalability.</blockquote>The same article cites industry insider claiming that the new iteration of the robot is only able to recycle as many devices in a year as Apple sells in just 48 hours.<ref name=":0" /> Thus, it can be assumed that the vast majority of trade-in devices are simply shredded.

===OS-Level age verification===
{{Main|Apple introduces OS-level age verification}}
[[File:Verificacion-de-edad-en-iOS-26.4.jpg.webp|alt=iOS 26.4 Beta Age verification|thumb|iOS 26.4 Beta Age verification]]
On February 25, 2026, Apple rolled out the iOS Beta version 26.4, in order to comply with the [[Online Safety Act]] and other similar normatives. This version contains an [[Age verification]] system built on the operating system, blocking content that could be considered as "mature", including websites. It will be rolled on the UK, Brazil, Australia, Singapore and US states of Louisiana and Utah. Site and content blocking cannot be bypassed by [[wikipedia:Virtual_Private_Network|VPNs]] as the restrictions are in the operating system itself. The current only way to prevent being blocked is by verifying by submitting info of an existing credit card. <ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2026 |title=Age requirements for apps distributed in Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Utah, and Louisiana |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=f5zj08ey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228012954/https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=f5zj08ey |archive-date=February 28, 2026 |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Apple Devloper}}</ref>

==Products==

*[[iCloud]]
*[[iPhone]]
*iPad
*Mac
*Apple Watch
*AirPods
*Apple TV
*Apple Vision
*Apple Pencil

*[[Apple App Store]]
*[[Apple Gatekeeper]]
*[[Xcode]]

==See also==

*[[Google]]
*[[Microsoft]]
*[[Samsung]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Apple| ]]

Article suggestions

2026-06-03T04:10:29Z

Neige:

This page is dedicated towards providing a communal list for users to submit potential articles to feature on the wiki, and to give editors inspiration on what pages they might want to add to the wiki. If you create an article based on an entry from this list, or see that someone else has done so, please make sure to delete the row from this page in order to prevent confusion.

Sources should be inserted within the 'refs' section of the table. If using the [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Jargon_buster#Visual_editor_('Edit')|visual editor]], take advantage of '<nowiki/>'''insert reference'''<nowiki/>' via {{Key press|Ctrl|Shift|K}} so that the sources are quick to add to future articles. If you are using the source editor, feel free to copy and paste the formatting from other correctly formatted references on the page. The more sources you include with an article idea, the more likely it is that others will pick the article idea up and run with it, so please attempt to include a good variety of descriptive sources!

Please take note of the wiki's [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion criteria]] when submitting article suggestions. If you see article suggestions here which do not fit the Wiki, feel free to remove them, leaving your reasoning in an edit note.

If you are an editor looking for further inspiration to write an article, you can also check out the [[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory|Louis Rossmann video directory]] and [[Other Channels - Video Directory|other channels video directory]] for a good collections of potential articles.

==Example==
Below is an example of what an entry should appear as:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[Nintendo]]
|In 2025, the company Nintendo stripped Switch 2 consoles that used the MIG switch cartridge of all online functionality
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251222013641/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |archive-date=22 Dec 2025|access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|}

==List of incidents not yet covered==
[[Category:Sources]]
- LEGO BRICKS investigator utuber had to flee USA due to cop hitsquad <nowiki>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxZPfj8AlmY</nowiki>

For the last two months said youtuber tried to help a family recover 2000 dolars, currently in hiding in mexico due to swatting
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|194 Online Marketing Services (incl. [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]])
|Survey shows that more than half of websites set marketing cookies despite users opting out via Do Not Track header, Browser add-ons or by declining cookie banners. Google calles it a "misunderstanding of how their products work", Meta comments that according to the law an opt-out only prohibits selling of the data, not collecting it.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://globalprivacyaudit.org/2026/california}}</ref>
|-
|[[8Player]]
|In early March, 2026, the Apple TV application called 8Player began displaying a notice informing users who had already paid for the app, that the app would not continue to function unless they agreed to an ongoing subscription.
The text of the notice says the following:
----Thank you for being a valued 8player user.

To keep improving the app and delivering new features, 8player is moving to a subscription model.

You can continue using the full version at no cost until April 15, 2026.

After that, activate the subscription in the app to keep full access. Your existing features will remain available, and no action is needed today.

Thank you for supporting 8player over the years.

[[:File:8player-subscription-model-notice.png]]
|
|-
|[[ABC Financial Services]]
|Manages memberships and recurring service subscriptions for other companies. Prevents customers from being able to cancel a service by locking them into a never-ending cycle of auto renewals, and not allowing the customer to opt out of auto renewal.
|
|-
|[[Acer]]
|Removed Predator/Nitro Sense Applications for laptops from their support sites somewhere in early March 2026 (Looking at wayback machine snapshots). The application is required by the laptops to be able to toggle "Turbo" mode, which applies overclocks and boosts cooling. Additionally, recent Windows update(s) (KB5083769/KB5082417) have broken the application, making users unable to use it even if you were able to install it.
|
|-
|AcuRite
|AcuRite began emailing customers last month that they’d soon have to control their devices with the "AcuRite Now" iOS and Android app, eliminating the free "My AcuRite" app, the replacement of which, "AcuRite Now" requires a subscription for features previously active in the free app.
|https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/05/weather-monitoring-firm-hangs-dark-cloud-over-customers-heads-by-forcing-new-app/
|-
|Affinity / [[Canva]] page created needs editors to help
|Canva purchases [[Serif]]; the owner of perpetual license design software Affinity Publisher, Designer, and Photo on March 26th 2024. Provides a pledge to assure users that Canva will not "ruin" the suite. In October 2025, Affinity users are locked out of the community forum for a new "Creative Freedom" announcement on October 30th 2025. Complete radio silence for a whole month while they tease long term users on Twitter and Discord. Finally on October 30th 2025, the new Affinity software is announced as "free". Instead, all creative professionals that used the original software are forced to create a new Canva account to access the new Affinity and thus agree to Canva's ToS<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-30 |title=Canva Terms of Use |url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128105545/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|website=Canva Legal Trust Center}}</ref>. Affinity redirects the pledge page to an announcement for the new software, effectively burying the original pledge<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge |url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ |archive-date=2025-10-02 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>. Questions about Canva now being able to monetize the work of professionals to train their own AI models sold to Canva users are left unanswered. Free, but at what cost?
EDIT: Initial article has been written but needs more work, citation, and verification. [[Canva Affinity Studio adds arbitration clause|See this article here]].
|<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
|-
|[[Alibaba]]
|{{Wplink|Alibaba Group|Wikipedia entry}}
|
|-
|[[AMD]]
|Linux users now have to pay for Vivado even though it used to be free
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=2026-05-25 |title=AMD Pulls a Bait-and-Switch on Linux Users with Vivado Licensing Changes |url=https://itsfoss.com/news/amd-vivado-bait-and-switch-on-linux-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=It's FOSS}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apotheka]]
|Personal ID codes, purchase information and contact details of almost half of Estonian citizens and residents have been compromised in a mass data breach of the IT system operated by Allium UPI, a firm dealing with pharmacy and hospital products.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Cybercriminals steal data of around 700,000 Apotheka pharmacy customers |url=https://news.err.ee/1609302096/cybercriminals-steal-data-of-around-700-000-apotheka-pharmacy-customers |url-status=live |website=[[ERR]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]]
|$17 000 Apple Watch 18 karat gold edition out of support only 8 years after its introduction (not end of sale!). This means no software support, and, crucially, no repair or replacement parts. If the battery dies, the watch is but a paperweight.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple will no longer fix the $17,000 gold Apple Watch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222211749/https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|website=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]], [[Beats]]
|No support for Powerbeats (4th generation) despite the headphones being under 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale. The product is not listed as discontinued or vintage, and by Apple's own guidelines, should be eligible for replacement parts and repair. OEM replacement eartips cannot be purchased for any Beats earphones.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207094149/https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |archive-date=7 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beats Repair and Service |url=https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260104000857/https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |archive-date=4 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple store search for eartips |url=https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251028001314/https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |archive-date=28 Oct 2025|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]]
|Apple pentalobe screws.
|[[Wikipedia: Pentalobe screw]]
|-
|[[Apple]] iWork/Creator Studio
|The update that makes the iWork apps part of the new Apple Creator Studio subscription now adds tracking that is enabled by default and implemented as opt-out. The information about it is displayed in a first launch screen without any immediate way opt out, which qualifies as a dark pattern. Instead, the user has to go through a slightly convoluted path via the iPhone/iPad system settings app, and under the submenu "Apps" find each of the iWork apps and disable analytics there individually for each app. On Desktop, it is under a dedicated menu item under the "Pages"/"Numbers"/"Keynote" menu.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=New versions of Keynote, Numbers, and Pages collect telemetry by default on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032029/https://old.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[archive.today]] / archive.ph (Web Archival Service)
|The website used [[JavaScript]] embedded into the website code to conduct a DDOS attack from users' devices against a blogger who has voiced criticism of the service in the past. This may make also cause legal issues for users.
NOTE: A similar technique has previously been used by Chinese search giant [[Baidu]], so we might want to create a category or tag for this type of thing

ADDENDUM: This page was reported to have been changing the information displayed in some archived screenshots, such as the author who published particular articles.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirchner |first=Malte |last2=Kunz |first2=Dr. Christopher |date=10 Feb 2026 |title=Archive.today: Operator uses users for DDoS attack |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Archive-today-Operator-uses-users-for-DDoS-attack-11171455.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212060655/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Archive-today-Operator-uses-users-for-DDoS-attack-11171455.html |archive-date=12 Feb 2026 |website=heise}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |title=Wikipedia Banned 690,000 Archive Links - LMG Clips |url=https://youtu.be/rrnFUvFGf5A?si=32JRogu2ID9xykHd |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=LMG Clips on YouTube - Wikipedia Banned 690,000 Archive Links}}</ref>
|-
|[[ASUS]] (ROG)
|Releases bios updates via windows executable, meaning that you can't update your bios to the latest version to amend a security vulnerability or fix an issue unless you're running microsoft windows. The windows executable simply extracts a binary file, that you can drop on a thumb drive. This could be easily done via direct download to support other operating systems.
|
|-
|[[AutoAuth]]
|'''AutoAuth''' represents a significant shift toward "repair-by-subscription," where owning a vehicle no longer guarantees the right to maintain it. By placing a digital firewall between the owner and the car’s computer, AutoAuth forces independent shops and DIY enthusiasts to pay recurring access fees and register their personal data with a third-party gatekeeper just to perform basic maintenance, such as electronic parking brake retractions or oil life resets.
|
|-
|[[Backblaze]]
|Backblaze makes canceling a subscription needlessly complex and convoluted. This is referring to their personal backup solution, I do not know how other subscriptions are handled.
To cancel a Backblaze subscription after 30 days you are required to delete your account. A full refund can apparently be requested within that window
[https://www.backblaze.com/company/policy/payments-and-refunds "Payments and refunds"].
If after 30 days you decide to cancel or switch to a different service after your subscription ends you have the following options:
1. Wait until the end of your subscription to cancel.
2. Delete your account, removing your access to the service prematurely.
There is no "do not renew" option, even removing your payment information is not possible. In my opinion it should be possible to enjoy the access you paid for without having to remember to cancel a year or two later.
[https://help.backblaze.com/hc/en-us/articles/217665728-Canceling-and-Deleting-a-Backblaze-Account "Canceling and deleting a Backblaze account"]
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|[[Bayer]]
|[[wikipedia:Bayer|Wikipedia]]. See [[Monsanto]]
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|[[Benjamin]]
|Offerwall phone app that pays users money for various tasks- such as watching ads, or downloading and using software. After years of user satisfaction, in late 2025, the company first put a 2 month moratorium on users' ability to withdraw their earned money, then rolled out a massive wave of enshittification features, the most egregious of which, is a "withdrawl queue", where withdrawing your earnings is placed into a queue with no visible progress. No days, no queue tracker, many members have been waiting over 3 months for their withdrawls to be processed, on a feature listed as "instant withdrawl". Various policies also implemented that would completely void a user's earned money, mainly inactivity but also many baseless random user bans (many of which were reversed). There are hundreds of frustrated user testimonials on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/benjaminone/).
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|Berlin
|City of Berlin installs security cameras that alerts authorities about people who are "loitering without reason".
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=10 Mar 2026 |title=Surveillance in Berlin: When AI reports "loitering without reason" |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Surveillance-in-Berlin-When-AI-reports-loitering-without-reason-11206420.html |website=heise}}</ref>
|-
|[[Better Business Bureau]] (BBB)
|Users who have been wronged and even scammed by companies have recently started reporting that the BBB has ignored, rejected, misclassified, closed prematurely or taken down their valid, BBB compliant, complaints for no apparent reason<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-29 |title=Better Business Bureau Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bbb.org |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=Trustpilot}}</ref>. Attempts to remedy the situation often result in unanswered/ignored emails and ghosting. Companies with large percentages of unresolved complaints often get an A+ rating (which basically contradicts the BBB's own guidelines). This is especially true when it comes to paying BBB member companies, but is often also the case with non member companies. A Redditors explained that a company can easily buy an A+ BBB rating by paying the BBB<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waste Managment sent an ad disguised as a bill |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ColoradoSprings/comments/1l6hr18/comment/mwpys3o/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=Reddit}}</ref> or by paying a lawyer to threaten to sue the BBB for defamation.
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|-
|[[Best Buy]]
|In late 2025, BestBuy added [https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/pricing-message/pcmcat748302046647.c?id=pcmcat748302046647#:~:text=Our%20%E2%80%9CComparable%20Value%E2%80%9D%20(Comp,retailers%20or%20e%2Dcommerce%20companies. "Comparable Value"] as means of comparing values of products that is of equivalent value to other products sold by manufacturers, 1st party, or 3rd party vendors. Changes to their pricing model has made it to where it is more difficult to determine overall value of a product compared to MSRP.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Support |first=Best Buy |date=2025-01-24 |title=Pricing: Promotions |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/pricing-message/pcmcat748302046647.c?id=pcmcat748302046647#:~:text=Our%20%E2%80%9CComparable%20Value%E2%80%9D%20(Comp,retailers%20or%20e%2Dcommerce%20companies. |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Best Buy}}</ref>
|-
|[[Blackview]]
|[https://www.blackview.hk Blackview], a technology brand that originally specialized in rugged outdoor phones more info at [https://www.blackview.hk/about-blackview "About us]"
Certain Phones have been hit with advertisements from the App called "System message" which is baked in the OS, "Allow Notification dots" can be disabled however "All System message notifications" and neither "Push" notifications cannot be disabled by the user. The App cannot be disabled nor uninstalled, it can be forced stopped and set the battery restriction option to "restricted". I [[User:SolidSnakePliskin|SolidSnakePliskin]] creating this entry have seen this happen firsthand on 1st April 2026 on my Blackview Model Number: N6000 (EEA) Purchased on [https://web.archive.org/web/20260401174012/https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0CCXBNTWR Amazon Italy]. OS Details: Android Version 13 (Security Update November 5, 2025) & DokeOS 3.1. Further More other Reddit users complaining [https://old.reddit.com/r/blackview/comments/1mo441x/get_rid_of_system_notification_that_contains_ads/ here].
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|[[Bluesky]]
|Introduced ID check for Direct Messaging to comply with laws in certain states and abroad, despite both the company and community being against it.
Its legal docs ([https://bsky.social/about/support/tos ToS], [https://bsky.social/about/support/privacy-policy PP], [https://bsky.social/about/support/community-guidelines CG]) need [[JavaScript|JS]] to be viewed by humans, however this seems more of an oversight than deliberate
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|-
|[[Carvana]]
|Saying cars that have been in accidents have not; Lies about inspection and does not replace brake pads even when worn down. Non-refundable $1,500 shipping fee. See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9yhOeTUEo4 Louis Rossmann's video]
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|-
|[[Chuwi]]
|Misleading consumers by falsifying the specsheet of one of their latest laptops, and repeatedly threatened one of the online publications that wrote an article of their alleged misdeeds.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leitner |first=Simon |date=2026-03-12 |title=CPU fraud, next round: Chuwi CoreBook Plus with supposed AMD Ryzen 5 7430U also affected |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313120720/https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref>
|-
|[[Cloudary Holdings Limited / Webnovel]]
|Terms of service with binding Arbitration.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Webnovel ToS |url=https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260101204816/https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |archive-date=1 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Devolo]]
|Devolo switches off servers and removes their app from stores for their "Home Control" system, thus severely reducing the functionality of their devices (apparently Z-Wave-based).
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=IT-News für Profis |url=https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210052941/https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |archive-date=10 Dec 2025|website=Golem |language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[DeviantArt]]
|DeviantArt launched in 2000 and quickly became a household name among digital artists. [https://www.wix.com/press-room/home/post/wix-acquires-deviantart-pairing-wix-capabilities-with-global-creative-community But in 2017 WiX] bought the website and in 2022 had made all art on it's site liable to be training data by default. They then back peddled and then set all art to noai by default. Now they are moving basic functions to be behind their paywall. [https://www.deviantart.com/razorstargazer/journal/Deviantart-is-the-worst-website-ever-created-1309667089 Ones that were free.]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The AI Controversy on DeviantArt: How a Creative Paradise Became a Battleground |url=https://expertbeacon.com/the-ai-controversy-on-deviantart-how-a-creative-paradise-became-a-battleground/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wix Acquires DeviantArt, Pairing Wix Capabilities with Global Creative Community |url=https://www.wix.com/press-room/home/post/wix-acquires-deviantart-pairing-wix-capabilities-with-global-creative-community |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|DotPe cyber-sec negligence
|In 2024, an Indian company that provides digital services to food-chains got trivially hacked/cracked, allowing anyone to get customer data and company revenue-stats across many countries
|<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240923081639/https://peabee.substack.com/p/whats-inside-the-qr-code-menu-at</ref>
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|[[Digital Europe]] (lobby organization consisting of [[Microsoft]], [[Google]], [[Amazon]], and [[Meta]])
|Group lobbied to keep datacenter emissions secret from consumers via confidentiality clause that was adopted almost verbatim by the Eurpean Comission, intentionally keeping consumers in the dark about the environmental impact of the products they use.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/17/microsoft-us-tech-firms-lobbied-eu-secrecy-rules-datacentre-emissions}}</ref>
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|[[E621]]
|Terms of service that require agreement to forced arbitration to use the website.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=E621 |url=https://e621.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128164339/https://e621.net/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|website=E621}}</ref>
|-
|[[EcoVac]]
|Vacuum cleaner robots produced by company 'EcoVac' were found vulnerable to hacking over bluetooth allowing for remote control and access to camera feed. Security researcher Dennis Giese notified the company in December of 2023. In August of 2024, the issue was described by the company as "extremely rare in typical user environments and require specialized hacking tools and physical access to the device."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fell |first=Julian |date=2024-10-04 |title=We hacked a robot vacuum — and could watch live through its camera - ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251128025250/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |archive-date=28 Nov 2025|access-date=2025-09-10 |website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-09 |title=Ecovacs home robots can be hacked to spy on their owners, researchers say {{!}} TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222212044/https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |archive-date=2026-02-22 |access-date=10 Aug 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-15 |title=Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on X: "Finally, Ecovacs responds to the researchers' findings, saying it won't fix the bugs. |url=https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241108194816/https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |archive-date=8 Nov 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[Elegoo Centauri Carbon|Elegoo]]
|The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3d printer has been proven to use open source Klipper software which requires them to publish their changes to the code.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-28 |title=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance |url=https://freethecode.lol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206142736/https://freethecode.lol/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025|access-date=2025-08-28 |website=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance}}</ref>
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|[[Ericcson]]
|Data Breach March 2026
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|-
|[[FBI]]
|FBI buys location data of US citizens
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=FBI is buying location data to track US citizens, director confirms |url=https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/18/fbi-is-buying-location-data-to-track-us-citizens-kash-patel-wyden/ |url-status=live |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Foxconn]]
|Foxconn is an electronics manufacturer with various human rights violations on it's record. They've also convinced the government to use eminent domain to take people's property to build factories, that never end up using the factories.
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|-
|[[Foxit Reader]]
|Updater uses dark pattern to trick unsuspecting users into installing a trial version of their paid product. The checkbox is enabled again by default with each update in the hope that the user misses it by accident at some point.
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|-
|[[Gaggia]]
|Between 2015 to 2019, the redesigned Gaggia Classic removed the traditional three-way solenoid valve. The valve was restored in the 2019 Gaggia Classic Pro after criticism and backlash from the espresso enthusiast community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waddell |first=Kelsey |date=2023-03-23 |title=Gaggia Classic vs Pro: A Closer Look at the Differences |url=https://www.roastycoffee.com/gaggia-classic-vs-pro/ |website=Roasty Coffee}}</ref>
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|[[General Motors|GM]]
|GM originally released the EV1 in 1996 on a lease program, and then instead of selling the much loved used/leased vehicles to consumers, they decided to crush the grand majority of them. Very few surviving examples can be found today, with most in private collections or at universities.
Because it was seen as a failure to major auto manufacturers, It would take over a decade before another EV was produced in the United States.
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|Google TLS Changes
|Google's new requirements to certificate authorities require separate authority/signing chains to be used to issue Server Authentication and Client Authentication certificates. Therefore, starting 11 February 2026, Let's Encrypt will no longer include the Client Authentication EKU on default certificates
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|[[Google]] ([[Android]])
|Google apparently plans to reduce the interval of publishing source code of security patches they consider non-critical. This is another blow to the custom ROM community.
Right now we don't have these incidents organised chronologically, maybe we should have a table with a timeline of measures Google takes to enshittify and close down Android (more APIs moved to Play Services, Developer verification, withholding AOSP device trees for Pixel devices to mess with [[GrapheneOS]], now delayed source code disclosure). What's worst, they always cite safety as a reason.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260107025310/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Android Authority}}</ref>
|-
|[[Google Maps]]
|Google restricts data visible in Google Maps for users who are not signed in with an account (see [[Forced account]]). Reviews and photos are no longer visible without login. This also forces users to agree to Google's TOS and logs them into all other Google services, such as YouTube or Google Search so that now all their data in those other services is associated with their accounts. This also raises concerns that other services such as YouTube might follow.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Feb 2026 |title=Google Maps now forces you to sign-in |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r4iauf/google_maps_now_forces_you_to_signin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032117/https://old.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r4iauf/google_maps_now_forces_you_to_signin/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2026 |title=Can't view images without logging in? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r74v0f/cant_view_images_without_logging_in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032213/https://old.reddit.com/r/GoogleMaps/comments/1r74v0f/cant_view_images_without_logging_in/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>
|-
|[[Google]], [[Mozilla]], [[Apple]], [[Microsoft]], but largely Google-led
|Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari are removing XSLT 1.0 support, which could break critical parts of government's websites worldwide<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dimant |first=Dimitrii "Mamut" |date=2025-08-10 |title=XSLT removal will break multiple government and regulatory sites across the world #11582 |url=https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211221059/https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-25 |website=Github (specifically the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group's HTML standards repo, controlled by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft and Apple)}}</ref>. There are valid security reasons for them to want to stop supporting this 1999-era standard, however they have had 26+ years to update to a newer standard (such as the 2017-era 3.1 standard, which is backwards compatible and would allow these sites to continue to work<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-21 |title="XML Path Language (XPath) 3.1: W3C Recommendation 21 March 2017" |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116015839/https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026|website=W3C}}</ref>). The single unpaid developer maintaining these libraries has more or less retired after getting flooded with impossible to satisfy security requests from these companies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellnhoffer |first=Nick |date=2025-05-08 |title=Triaging security issues reported by third parties |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131231248/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |archive-date=31 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-25 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>. There is an existing project called XRUST to implement the 3.1 standard<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-09 |title=XRust: XPath, XQuery, and XSLT for Rust |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204085435/https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |archive-date=4 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>, which is 2/3rds of the way through supporting all the features of 1.0 - the XSLT part fully supports all the 1.0 features at this point. XSLT is part of the W3C Consortium's open web standards for formatting and presenting XML, and is also how RSS works, so RSS feeds would stop working as well, disrupting the livelihoods of podcasters<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rijo |first=Luis |date=2025-08-20 |title=Google targets RSS feeds in new XSLT removal proposal |url=https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222212228/https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=PPC-Land}}</ref>. This has led to questions of who owns the web - the public (including the government) who paid for and laid down the highways / web infrastructure - or a handful of large corporations? <ref>{{Cite web |last=Branscombe |first=Mary |date=2025-09-01 |title=XSLT Debate Leads to Bigger Questions of Web Governance |url=https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131231310/https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |archive-date=31 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=The New Stack}}</ref>
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|-
|[[Google Photos]]
|Google Makes it more difficult to manage photos within your google drive account through third party applications, including open source software running on linux.
This makes it incredibly frustrating to clear space in google drive if you've exceeded the space limits.
|<ref>https://github.com/gilesknap/gphotos-sync-discussion/discussions/1</ref>
|-
|[[GoPro]] Hero 12
|GoPro Hero 12 requires the GoPro app to be installed before you can use the camera. Many currently used devices are not compatible with the app, therefore making use of the camera difficult to impossible for new owners or upon camera factory reset. There's also the question of what data the app collects and whether it requires login and or camera activation.
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|-
|[[Honda]]
|moved the garage door opener from a button on the mirror to a [[Pay-walling|paywall]] [[subscription service]]
|<ref>https://reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/1sd54jo/replaced_my_honda_with_a_new_one_after_an/</ref>
|-
|[[Hyundai]] (BlueLink)
|Hyundai ads in-car advertisements for subscription services, while you're driving, after telling you not to look at the screen while driving.
The advertisement is a full page of text, that you can't either enable or disable while you're driving. Your only options are to (A) select later, to delay the ad for another driving session, or (2) Pull over and park your car so you can (C) enable the feature at $10/mo or (iii) dig through settings menus to figure out how to disable the message permanently (which will probably only be actually permanent until the battery in the car dies).
BlueLink appears to be marketing lingo for their cell-phone-linked remote start/stop, lock/unlock, and climate control features. The only feature that should actually need a cellular subscription appears to be stolen vehicle recovery.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Hank |date=2026-16-04 |title=Should I Sue Hyundai? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ1RUyOF2Rk |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref>https://connected-mobility.hyundai.com/what-we-do/connected-car-services/bluelink</ref>
|-
|[[Internet radios]]
|I'd like a page where I can share information about internet radios "openness." Few allow you to enter a radio station's URL (which I would consider the least intrusive option). Most depend on third-party websites or apps; [https://www.sangean.com/uk/blog/149 some of which have already bricked devices].
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|-
|[[itch.io]], [[Night School Studios]], [[Netflix]]
|In September 2024, users who purchased the game Oxenfree on itch.io were warned that the game was going to be pulled from the platform on October 1st. Consumers would not be able to download the installers after this date, so they would lose access unless they had them backed up. Users speculated that Netflix, the parent company of the development studio, had ordered the move; however, no response from Netflix or the developers was ever published. This is particularly notable because it is against itch.io's terms of service: "Users shall retain a license to this content even after the content is removed from the Service."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=itch corp |date=15 Apr 2023 |title=itch.io Terms of Service |url=https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907004719/https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=ShawnS |date=31 Jan 2025 |title=OXENFREE |url=https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070400/https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=9 Sep 2024 |title=Another reminder that your digital library isn't forever: Oxenfree will be completely removed from Itch.io next month |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523111125/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>
|-
|[[The Japan Times|Japan Times, The]]
|The Japan Times uses the DMCA to take down an open source study resource for the Genki and Quartet workbooks.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clydesdale |first=Seth |date=2025-09-11 |title=Important Information Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116072121/https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |archive-date=16 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Update Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources DMCA Situation |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251115073152/https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |archive-date=15 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=All Exercises for Genki/Quartet Study Resources Have Been Removed |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113045244/https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kangaroo]]
|A home security camera company that locks local hardware features behind software subscriptions and paywalls that ultimately could work without external service. Access to local storage playback via the app is locked behind a paywall; see reviews. "cooldown" periods provide a risk to security as motion detection does not activate until after a fixed period of time on no-subscription plans with clips that only capture 12 seconds of recording, this was not always the case.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=John |date=2021-11-09 |title=Kangaroo Indoor + Outdoor Cam Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kangaroo-indoor-plus-outdoor-cam |url-status=live |archive-date=2024-08-11 |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=PCMag}}</ref><ref>https://www.bestbuy.com/product/kangaroo-indoor-outdoor-wired-1080p-security-camera-white/J3QLYYW64G/sku/6506997/reviews?pageSize=20</ref>
|-
|[[Klarna]]
|A German consumer rights association reports that payment provider Klarna requests access to users' bank accounts for payment purposes, but instead of just initiating transactions as the user expects, it also scans the complete list of transactions on the user's bank account for advertising purposes and also forwards that data to third parties. Klarna also faces criticism for encouraging debt by offering "buy now, pay later" schemes.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/apps/klarna-verbraucherschuetzer-kritisieren-konto-schnueffelei-bei-zahlungsdienstleister-a-de915cd3-997e-4b39-ad67-bb5d22969635}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.chip.de/news/Warnung-vor-KlarnaVebraucherschuetzer-sind-besorgt_185654845.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-News-Sicherheit-Verbraucherzentrale-warnt-Klarna-analysiert-Kontodaten-39229147.html}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kohls]]
|There is no option to delete your account on their website
|
|-
|[[KOSA]]
|KOSA claims to make kids safer, but it’s really a dangerous censorship bill that would give the U.S. government unprecedented control over the internet. This would put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing potentially life-saving resources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fight for the Future |first= |date=2026-01-24 |title=Reject online censorship. Tell lawmakers to oppose KOSA! |url=https://www.stopkosa.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Stop KOSA}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250228145348/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Katy-ISD-blocks-LGBTQ-resources-suicide-16647274.php</ref>
|-
|[[LBRY]] Foundation, [[Odysee]]
|Community first decentralization & Odysee's plan to enable censorship by switching away from the opensource LBRY network.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The LBRY Foundation |url=https://lbry.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161516/https://lbry.org/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-08-08 |quote=The LBRY community invites everyone to join us in building a more free and open way to share content and information online.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Watson |first=RT |date=6 Jun 2024 |title=Decentralized YouTube alternative Odysee acquired by Forward Research despite content concerns |url=https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127094918/https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|access-date=16 Aug 2025 |work=The Block}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Li |first=Jun |last2=Grintsvayg |first2=Alex |last3=Kauffman |first3=Jeremy |last4=Fleming |first4=Charles |date=2020 |title=LBRY: A Blockchain-Based Decentralized Digital Content Marketplace |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007 |url-status=live |journal=2020 IEEE International Conference on Decentralized Applications and Infrastructures (DAPPS) |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=IEEE |doi=10.1109/DAPPS49028.2020.00005 |isbn=978-1-7281-6978-1 |url-access=registration |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825221749/https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025 |via=IEEE Xplore}}</ref>
|-
|[[LexisNexis]]
|Data breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[LG]]
|LG discontinued its LG Bluetooth Remote app (including plugins such as "btc4") making it non-public on the Play Store and making Bluetooth controllable devices (like for example the CM2630B) half as useful, without even publishing neither the protocol used to control such devices nor the source code of the app.
|
|-
|Linkedin
|LinkedIn has been caught running a massive, silent operation that scans the local computers of its visitors. Every time a user visits <code>linkedin.com</code> using a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave), a hidden JavaScript program executes to check for the presence of over '''6,000 specific browser extensions.'''
|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHj6IvBmlpU
https://browsergate.eu/
|-
|[[Lowe's]]
|Lowe's uses flock cameras and other AI powered cameras to collect data and build a profile on "prospective, current, or former Lowe's customers". Their cameras point away from their stores.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=6 Aug 2025 |title=Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops |url=https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216173226/https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026|access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=404 Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Lowe’s U.S. Privacy Statement |url=https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228013530/https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |archive-date=28 Dec 2025|access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=Lowe's}}</ref>
|-
|[[Marquis]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Meta]] and [[YouTube]]
|In a recent trial Meta and Google were found liable for making there social media platforms addictive and harmful
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c747x7gz249o |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Microsoft's Android keyboard app SwiftKey set to make it impossible to backup user data without a Microsoft Account, backups must be stored in Microsoft cloud
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=18 Mar 2026 |title=SwiftKey will soon require a Microsoft account to save your typing info. |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/896859/swiftkey-will-soon-require-a-microsoft-account-to-save-your-typing-info}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Locked the developers of Windscribe, Veracrypt, and, Wireguard out of their accounts
|
|-
|[[Microsoft]] Rewards
|Used to be a good program, but over the last few years they've implemented a number of anti-user policies including extensive cool-downs for earning points on Bing, and making it more difficult to redeem points. There are multiple reports on r/microsoftrewards of people getting banned or restricted when they have over $100 worth of points that they are trying to redeem. They've also removed points opportunities that used to be interesting and engaging.
|
|-
|[[Minut]]
|Minute sells sensors and alarms. They released an alarm (Point) on kickstarter that long after release got a firmware update adding forced subscription if more than one person wanted to use the alarm.
|<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/minut/pointthe-friendly-home-alarm</ref>
<ref>https://www.minut.com/</ref>
|-
|[https://www.mobvoi.com/us Mobvoi/Ticwatch]
|Written with partially help of AI
Mobvoi has gained a reputation for a "launch and forget" pattern, where devices are marketed with the promise of future software updates that often arrive years late or are cancelled entirely. This pattern—most notable in the two-year delay of the Wear OS 3 update—frequently leaves consumers with hardware that lacks core advertised features, such as Google Assistant. Additionally, the company faces criticism for restrictive warranty policies and a difficult return process that often places the financial burden of shipping and replacement on the user. Once the app was abandoned subscription was still available for purchases but was unusable
|https://9to5google.com/2025/12/05/mobvoi-ticwatch-wear-os-dead/
https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/mobvoi-explains-wear-os-3-holdup
https://www.pcmag.com/news/another-wear-os-smartwatch-maker-appears-to-have-given-up
https://www.xda-developers.com/mobvoi-lying-ticwatch-hardware/
|-
|Multiple
|Several legal cases involving forced arbitration in some manner; many of these relate to other anticonsumer practices, such as when Wells Fargo illegally opened up ~3.5M fake checking and credit accounts in customers' names. Highly advised to deeply scrub for supplementary sources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 16, 2019 |title=Fact Sheet: Cases Tossed Out of Court Because of Forced Arbitration Causes and Class Action Bans |url=https://www.centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-cases-tossed-out-court-because-forced-arbitration-causes-and-class-action-bans#_ftn1 |access-date=Feb 12, 2026 |website=Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251013145327/https://centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-cases-tossed-out-court-because-forced-arbitration-causes-and-class-action-bans |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[MuseGroup]] (MuseSounds)
|Releasing more and more subscription sound packs while previously released one-time purchase sound packs are full of bugs/issues and have gone without updates for sometimes over a year. They have also increased the price of one-time purchase packs by about 500% while still providing no additional or improved functionality.
They also added unsolicited popups advertising their paid sound packs at startup of the open source MuseScore application, as well as buttons and commands for their cloud service to the home screen, which cannot be disabled. They previously ran into controversy when changing the privacy policy of Audacity and tried to add tracking. The closed-source MuseHub application (which is required to download the free sound packs) connects to tracking services with neither a real opt-in nor an opt-out option. Newer versions of MuseHub now seem to [[Forced account|require an account]] to download free sound packs and sound effects, which previously was not the case. Muse Hub starts at every system launch by default and stays active in the background despite this not being required for its functionality. They also added proprietary parts to MuseScore (like the MuseSample), which is kept closed source. They also bought StaffPad and seem to have quietly ceased its development without publishing any statements.
|
|-
|[[NationStates]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Navdy]], [[Harman International]]
|Device discontinued and no updates, device can be used offline for 1 year until it stops working.
https://www.reddit.com/r/navdy/
|
|-
|[[Navia]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Netgear]] (internet networking equipment)
|Almost every Netgear internet router requires the creation of a new account to function as a router (see [[Forced account]]), where the TOS includes an agreement to binding arbitration. Most if not all devices are locked into proprietary firmware with no option to change. Some automatic updates have reportedly cause loss of performance with option to revert to a previous version, "bricking" the device in some cases.
Engages in anti-consumer practices, requiring a subscription for basic WiFi-router features such as parental controls. According to a blogpost by a senior employee, grew from "45% in 2016 to over 60% in 2019" of the US consumer router market. In 2025, Netgear is "being sued by TP-Link for a 'Smear Campaign' to Advance US Router Ban [of it's competitor TP-Link].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=NETGEAR Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What subscription plans are available for NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls? |url=https://kb.netgear.com/000062104/What-subscription-plans-are-available-for-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abhay Bhorkar |url=https://www.netgear.com/hub/author/abhorkar/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TP-Link Accuses Netgear of 'Smear Campaign' to Advance US Router Ban |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/tp-link-accuses-netgear-of-smear-campaign-to-advance-us-router-ban?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=B |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[https://www.nexigroup.com/ Nexi S.p.A.]
|Nexi is a payment services provider based in Italy, which has been used by the [https://fsfe.org/ Free Software Foundation Europe] (FSFE) for ~ 15 years. They have allegedly been asking FSFE for personal information of FSFE executives and supporters and have recently cancelled their contract with FSFE.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-16 |title=450 FSFE supporters affected: Payment provider Nexi cancelled us |url=https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260316-01.en.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317162959/https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260316-01.en.html |archive-date=2026-03-17 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=FSFE - Free Software Foundation Europe}}</ref>
|-
|[[Odido]] Netherlands B.V.
|Odido is an internet service provider in the Netherlands with a 10-15% market share [[https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/acm-telecommonitor-derde-kwartaal-2025 79]]. On the 3rd of March 2026 a user reported that his Odido Zyxel EX5601-T1 router was (illegally) sending analytics data to a Turkish AI-company [[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/odido-router-verzamelt-analytics-van-je-huishouden-sipke-mellema-0uoie/ 80]]. The user reported on the 8th of March 2026 that the router silently stopped sending this data with no formal mention/patch from Odido. The user reported on the poor security of the router and that the analytics data contained the unencrypted names of local networks, the names of devices connected to these networks, and MAC-addresses. The poor security of Odido's routers follows a massive data leak of 6.2 million customers' full legal names, phone numbers, emails, bank account numbers, passport numbers and more [[https://tweakers.net/nieuws/244656/odido-waarschuwt-voor-datalek-miljoenen-klantgegevens-gestolen-bij-cyberaanval.html 81]].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACM Telecommonitor derde kwartaal 2025 |url=https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/acm-telecommonitor-derde-kwartaal-2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Odido-router verzamelt analytics van je huishouden |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/odido-router-verzamelt-analytics-van-je-huishouden-sipke-mellema-0uoie/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Odido waarschuwt voor datalek: miljoenen klantgegevens gestolen bij cyberaanval |url=https://tweakers.net/nieuws/244656/odido-waarschuwt-voor-datalek-miljoenen-klantgegevens-gestolen-bij-cyberaanval.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[OICA]] (European automotive lobby organisation)
|The OICA recently pushed for the right to emit sounds from quiet electric cars to make them as loud as conventional cars with combustion engine and against stricter noise regulation in cities. The fake engine noises in question are specifically not for safety purposes, but for emotional effect for the driver. However, instead of playing the noises only inside for just the driver to hear, the noise is to be played on speakers on the exterior, thus affecting the general public. Noise pollution has long been known to have adverse health effects. ''[NOTE: Similar to environmental aspects, greenwashing etc., we will have to find a good angle for how this fits the wiki. I would say it does match the general theme of manufacturers deliberately making their products worse for minor financial gain and lobbies pushing against things that are in public interest.]''
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sound Dictatorship vs. Quiet: The Battle for E-Car Roar |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108165124/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |archive-date=8 Jan 2026|access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>
|-
|Pearl Abyss
|Crimson Desert engaged in hardware gatekeeping by purposely locking out support for Intel GPUs. Their response when people asked what was going on was, “Get a refund.” They failed to mention in their hardware requirements that Intel GPUs were not supported. Intel also reached out to Pearl Abyss over the course of Crimson Desert’s development to offer support but was ignored. Pearl Abyss has now backpedaled after public backlash and says they will offer Intel GPU support.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intel suggests it was snubbed by Crimson Desert dev after reaching out "many times" about Arc GPUs – company says it provided "early hardware, drivers, and engineering resources" to studio |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/intel-suggests-it-was-snubbed-by-crimson-desert-dev-after-reaching-out-many-times-about-arc-gpus-company-says-it-provided-early-hardware-drivers-and-engineering-resources-to-studio |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert blocks Intel ARC GPUs from playing, studio asks owners to refund |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/crimson-desert-blocks-intel-arc-gpus-from-playing-studio-asks-owners-to-refund/#:~:text=Users%20on%20Reddit%20who%20discovered,resolution%20for%20Intel%20ARC%20owners. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert doesn't support Intel Arc GPUs on PC, it may never, and the devs say get a refund if you have one — they didn't warn players until launch |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/crimson-desert-doesnt-support-intel-arc-gpus-it-may-never-and-the-devs-say-get-a-refund-if-you-have-one |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert Doesn't Work on Intel GPUs, But Pearl Abyss Is Working On It |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/crimson-desert-doesnt-work-on-intel-gpus-but-pearl-abyss-is-working-on-it |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Regus]]
|A flexible office / workplace provider for freelancers, contractors, small businesses, etc.
This is specifically for their Virtual Office service. I am sure they apply these same predatory and deceptive tactics with the rest of their services as well.
Locks you into a contract for virtual services that they may terminate at any time. You can too only if you follow very specific and exaggerated terms. They will bill you for the entire agreement even with it terminated. You lose access to the services immediately upon termination but are forced to pay for the rest of the agreement. They are predatory with agreements and will not allow you to break them and will charge you for the entire thing regardless of what happens.
Forced arbitration. Force you to waive any right to class action lawsuits.
Contract comes with terms hidden in their "house rules" document, automatically opting the user into services they did not knowingly agree to, by default. These services are NOT included in the original contract in any way except through the referencing to other documents like the "Terms of Service" and "House Rules", not disclosed ahead of time. They clearly show a lower price and do not clearly show any of the additional services you unknowingly opt into.
They lead you into a low price to get the agreement signed. Once signed, you cannot escape or get out with their terms. You find out later that they've made you agree to additional services by default. They require YOU to jump through hoops to opt out of those services, and they bury the information to do it.
They have predatory auto-renewals for the contracts that are typically months to years long, with many being sold into higher 1 year+ contracts for "savings" and "discounts". These auto-renewals cannot be canceled without 3 MONTHS notice! If it renews, you are locked into another term which you will be forced to pay in full even if you terminate.
This is all for VIRTUAL office services that cost nothing to provide or remove.
A lot of deceptive patterns including, but not limited to: Comparison prevention, hidden costs, hidden subscription, obstruction.
|[https://serviceagreement.regus.com/TermsPDF/VirtualOffice/Global20250301.pdf Terms of Service]
[https://serviceagreement.regus.com/PreviewHouseRule.aspx?guidId=840179ed-c894-4e91-8ccc-3b882bcf4b38 House Rules]
[https://www.myregus.com/help#:~:text=you%20can%20give%20notice%20to%20terminate%20your%20agreement%20at%20anytime%20in%20your%20online%20account%20%2D%20but%20you%20will%20be%20charged%20until%20the%20end%20of%20your%20agreement%20term. Help Page - terminate anytime but pay everything]
|-
|[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games]
|Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone Games, and its publishing rights relinquished, citing "ongoing delays and a lack of updates from the developer". Studio Surgical Scalpels (the developer) stated that the publisher decisions were "extremely sudden and unreasonable", and attempted to "regain the rights to boundary". The game has been offline for more than a year at the time of writing, and no refunds or communications to the user base has been made by Skystone Games.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251021143111/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |archive-date=21 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Samsung Galaxy S25
|Samsung s25 ultra one ui 8.5 android 16 needs location for blue light shield even for custom schedule.
|[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Djw8iz7HWTt_uywYQywnMVDwmnBGPt_t/view?pli=1 Screenshot]
|-
|[[Sony]], Sony Online Entertainment/[[Daybreak Game Company]]
|Selling off SOE to the investment firm Columbus Nova, all games published by SOE were delisted without prior notice to consumers or developers, and licenses were revoked as well.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Shawn |date=Jun 10, 2016 |title=Akimi Village |url=https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127030103/https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|website=Delisted Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=Feb 2, 2015 |title=SOE acquired, becomes Daybreak Game Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204235742/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sony]]
|Sony implements surge pricing/discounts on a per-user basis on their playstation store by profiling users, similar to airlines, car rentals, and concert tickets... only the goods are digital only and downloadable rather than physical media. Critics are calling this Surveillance Pricing.
|<ref>https://youtu.be/t8yVc6Uarho?si=fJeCzxqmxgyB_tLq</ref>
|-
|[[Spectora]]
|Spectora is a home inspection software used by many home inspectors, a very important portion of the home buying process. Spectora has announced they intend to insert ads April 7th. The ads look like the home inspector (a independent entity) is recommending outside services. Spectora has also purchased other home inspection platform HomeGauge on April 4th. With Fixle being in the purchese which is the ad network they now own. There are also allegations (have not been proven) of sale of the inspection data (something that remains confidential with client controlling confidentiality) to insurance companies, and Home Lenders. Causing increased rates on historical inspection data even when those things could be a condition to close on the home.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forced Partnership |url=https://forum.nachi.org/t/forced-partnership/266387 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fixle by Spectora: Post-Inspection Tools for Home Buyers |url=https://www.spectora.com/fixle/?utm_campaign=41151531-2026%20Fixle%20Launch%20Campaign&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=411347418&utm_content=411347418&utm_source=hs_automation |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spectora acquires HomeGauge |url=https://coverager.com/spectora-acquires-homegauge/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Starbucks]]
|Data Breach affecting employees March 2026
|
|-
|[[Superbox]]
|Android TV box manufacturer Superbox remotely locks consumers' devices if they were sold below the manufacturer's minimum specified prices and asks consumers to contact the retailer when they complain.
They are not the first to do something like this. [[Deye]] locked down inverters in the US that they suspected might be gray imports.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=You'll Own Nothing and Be Happy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |website=YouTube |type=Video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Symantec]]
|Product: Norton Internet Security.
This one might be tough to document, because it's been slowly going on for the past 15 years. Norton used to offer a great internet security package with a ton of good and useful services for a decent price. Unfortunately, slowly over the years, they've gone further and further down the rabbit hole of charging more money for fewer and fewer features, and then locking some of those features behind even more paywalls and micro-transactions.
|
|-
|[[Steam]] by Valve software
|As of 2026 games bought to work and made for Windows 7, are no longer accessible on Windows 7 OS - A system they were made to work on and sold for. Titles that might not even work on modern Windows instalments.
This is done by forcing updates before launching of any title.
If there was a patch it will always fail before finishing update process.
Thus if user is unwilling to move to next installment of supported the operating system for whatever reason, which is not valve's decision to make. User is locked out of his purchase.
|[https://disk.yandex.com/i/ZPOVZYq11i8nJQ][https://disk.yandex.com/i/pBkHSsIhU5KqmA][https://disk.yandex.com/i/-mGVJAJHSTX-5Q][https://disk.yandex.com/i/I-NVZmXmfBrBEQ]
|-
|[[Telus]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[TriZetto]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Universal Audio]]
|Product: UAD (Volt) Audio Interfaces
Universal Audio (UAD) [[Forced account|requires users to create an account and sign in]] to their software to use their audio interfaces–this is a necessary step and without it the interfaces are unusable.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official UAD setup guide for "Volt" audio interfaces |url=https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409233546644-How-to-set-up-your-Volt-Interface}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Review of Volt 876 audio interface by Julian Krause |url=https://youtu.be/CCnttwq9jMw?si=DcwA97e3pSfp5rlr&t=803}}</ref>
|-
|[[UP3]] By [[Jawbone]]
|Approximately 2011, Pioneering startup company from San Francisco, had revolutionary fitness trackers. In 2017 with no notice to customers they stole personal data and shut down app which in turn, bricked devices. Highly likely went bankrupt and sold to sister company to manipulate customer services and rights. Now owned by Aliph brands.
|
|-
|[[Vive]]
|In 2022, Vive discontinued the original Vive Facial Tracker module a year after the original release, then released an updated model with proprietary firmware that blocked use on other 3rd party VR headset, while only allowing the new model to work with their new locked-down headset. The 2021 version of the face tracker's long term support was seemingly cut overnight without any software updates since 2021.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vive Team |date=2022-08-07 |title=VIVE Focus 3 gets Facial Tracker, and Eye Tracker |url=https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619155201/https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Vive Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=StateKi |date=2023-10-10 |title=Post by StatekTi on X |url=https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520140619/https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |archive-date=20 May 2026 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=X (Formerly Twitter)}}</ref>
|-
|Wheatstone Corporation
|Wheatstone Corporation are a manufacturer of professional broadcast equipment, mainly audio consoles and interfaces that utilise their proprietary Wheatnet audio over IP protocol.
Wheatstone restricts access to firmware updates, software configuration tools and software. You must open a support ticked in order for them to send you a download link to these software tools, they make it very difficult to access software required to make their hardware audio interfaces work, even stating they want proof of purchase (not just a licence key) before they will even give you the download link. Managing licences is also non-existent and you will need to contact support, and as such a fee is imposed.
|
|-
|White House
|The White House made a news app, but this app tracks your location every 4.5 minutes through third-party OneSignal
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deep Humor |date=2026-03-30 |title=Don't Download This App |url=https://youtu.be/d5OTwcRxaTw?si=REEdhGeYPelHGLEQ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tixon |first=Bernadette B. |date=2026-03-29 |title=White House App Found Tracking Users' Exact Location Every 4.5 Minutes via Third-Party Server |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/white-house-app-gps-tracking-controversy-1788974 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Milden |first=Dashia |date=2026-03-30 |title=I Downloaded (and Deleted) the White House App So You Don't Have To. It's a Hot Mess |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/i-downloaded-and-deleted-the-white-house-app-so-you-dont-have-to-its-a-hot-mess/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-30 |title=White House app sparks concern over location tracking and privacy issues |url=https://www.tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:565f766ef094b:0-white-house-app-sparks-concern-over-location-tracking-and-privacy-issues/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[TradingView]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[WHMCS]]
|Discontinuation of support and updates for WHMCS legacy “Owned” licenses, forcing users who want ongoing updates or technical support to switch to subscription licensing and pay recurring fees rather than continue with the original owned model. This change affects all holders of legacy owned licenses and alters the long-term terms under which those licenses were originally sold
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHMCS Knowledgebase |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/index.php/knowledgebase/70/Support-and-Updates-Expiration.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211021038/https://www.whmcs.com/members/index.php/knowledgebase/70/Support-and-Updates-Expiration.html |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Important pricing changes to your WHMCS owned license Mailer |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/mailings/?k=price21-emailo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215233549/https://www.whmcs.com/members/mailings/?k=price21-emailo |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Wireless Power Consortium]]
|After monopolizing wireless charging market Qi turned from an open standard into a proprietary.
Version 1.3 introduced "secure authentication between the transmitter and the receiver", i.e. in order to operate every charger must include an expensive proprietary chip licensed only to certified members. This results in increased development and manufacturing costs directly passed onto consumer. Version 2.2, unlike previous versions, "is available for WPC Members only".
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qi Certification Is Changing and We've Got You Covered |url=https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251104012700/https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |archive-date=4 Nov 2025|website=NXP Semiconductors}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download the Qi Specifications |url=https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251104094044/https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |archive-date=4 Nov 2025|website=Wireless Power Consortium}}</ref>
|-
|[[Wizards of the Coast]]
|Wizards of the Coast (WotC) seems to be positioning itself to move away from publishing physical books that last forever in favor of pushing digital-only sales and micro-transactions of content and subscriptions. They attempted to amend the OGL (Open Game License) to include language that would require third party authors of D&D content to give up rights to their own content, so WotC can sell it to consumers without crediting the original authors.
Notably, as a direct response to these anti-consumer activities and policies, a select few of the third party publishers have instead decided to come out with their own systems that are not beholden to WotC's whims. A couple of examples include ''Draw Steel'' and ''Daggerheart''. An earlier conflict prompted Paizo to release their own version of the classic D20-based tabletop RPG, ''Pathfinder'', when WotC started releasing the fourth edition of it's rule-set.
|
|-
|[[Wolfgang Puck]]
|Some of the bread makers have anti repair screws in them to prevent people from repairing them themselves. Needs more citations.
|
|-
|[[World Orb]]
|World Network (Sam Altman/Open AI) scheme to collect biometric data on all people. Tied to cryptocurrency, AI schemes. Supposedly way for people to show they are human (run by the people who are trying to make a profit from AI).
|
|-
|[[Zhiyun]]
|Like competing products from [[DJI]], Zhiyun video gimbals require a Chinese smartphone app, internet access and an [[Forced account|account]] to activate on first use.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=ZHIYUN Tutorials |date=25 Jul 2023 |title=ZHIYUN CRANE 2S Activation Tutorial |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CjNp6pWNoQ |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_CjNp6pWNoQ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
|}

==List of themes not yet covered==
Consumer Rights Wiki is not an encyclopedia.

*Before proposing or making a theme article, see if you can find an article that covers the topic on wikipedia, or some other reference. If you can, just use a reference to that.
*Check the list of theme articles [[:Category:common terms]], to be sure there isn't already an article on the topic, or one closely related. Sometimes a theme may be covered by generalizing an existing article.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Theme
!Summary of Theme
!Refs
|-
|Car manufacturers replacing physical controls by touch-screens
|This is increasingly common, and puts drivers at risk. Some corps pretend touchscreens are a "premium" or "modern" feature, but are typically cheaper for them
|
|-
|[[Content delivery network]] ([[CDN]])
|[[wikipedia:Content_delivery_network|WP]], see also [[Cloud (service)]]. While helpful, they can infer the browsing history of millions of users across sites. The bigger their monopoly, the more cross-site tracking power they have. Even GDPR has been against using CDNs in some situations. Examples of CDN: [[wikipedia:Amazon_CloudFront|CloudFront]] (see [[Amazon]] [[wikipedia:Amazon_Web_Services|AWS]]), [[Cloudflare]], [[Microsoft]] [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Azure|Azure]], [[wikipedia:Fastly|Fastly]], etc...
|
|-
|[[Copyright]]
*Consumer License Agreement (CLA)
|Copyright is an important theme, please mention what it covers, what are the exceptions (e.g. [[wikipedia:first-sale doctrine|first-sale doctrine]]), what laws cover it ([[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|DMCA]]), what exceptions the laws provide (e.g. panorama, see Refs column)
*Cover CLA as an incident type (example company/project [[Canonical]]/[[LXD]]), it's a form of forced contract assigning the company (source code maintainer) the copyright to open source contributions, allowing them to use them in closed source releases.
|[https://www.copyrightexceptions.eu/ CopyrightExceptions.eu]
*[https://drewdevault.com/blog/Dont-sign-a-CLA-2/ Seriously, don't sign a CLA]
*[https://stgraber.org/2023/12/12/lxd-now-re-licensed-and-under-a-cla/ LXD now re-licensed and under a CLA]
|}

==List of companies doing the right thing==
It would be helpful to include examples of companies doing the right thing, even if they aren't, strictly speaking, consumer products.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Good deed
!Refs
|-
|APSystems
|After requests from users, the company released a firmware update that adds a local API to their EZ-1M solar micro inverter, allowing it to remain fully usable if the company ends support for the device
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=APsystems EZHI Local API User Manual |url=https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107061040/https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |archive-date=7 Nov 2025|website=global.apsystems.com}}</ref>
|-
|Concept2
|Readily provides parts and diagrams. Exists under a [https://www.concept2.com/about/perpetual-purpose-trust Perpetual Purpose Trust].
|
|-
|Core Devices (from creator of Pebble Smartwatches)
|Not strictly Core Devices, but when Pebble was sold to Fitbit, the servers remained online for some time, and the Pebble app was updated to allow the Rebble community project to take over some of the Pebble server-side functionality. All backers of the upcoming Pebble 2 series of watches were refunded in full, despite it being a crowd-funding campaign.
Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit and after many years, Google released much of the Pebble Smart Watch source code on github (excluding proprietary libraries). Core Devices and Rebble replaced the usage of the proprietary libraries with open source alternatives, and released new Android and iOS apps, not only supporting the new core devices, but bringing updated support to legacy Pebble devices.
|
|-
|Fairphone
|The new Fairphones (5th and 6th generation) are availible with stock android as well as e/os, which is a fork of lineage os and a european alternative cloud provider (murena) instead of google. This has many privacy features (app tracker blocker, tor network usage, and gps spoofing) availible in a few clicks. Also degoogle apps (microg, safetynet, ...) are preinstalled therefore it is w´possible to install everything also from playstore with an anonymous account. As e/os is a fork of lineage os and there is an official guide to flash the fairphone with e/os and is officially supported, flashing lineage os is very easy.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-24 |title=How to manually install Android on your Fairphone |url=https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/18896094650513-How-to-manually-install-Android-on-your-Fairphone |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fairphone (Gen. 6) with privacy first /e/OS |url=https://shop.fairphone.com/the-fairphone-gen-6-e-operating-system |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|Framework
|They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for most of their products. They also support right to repair themselves.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainability |url=https://frame.work/sustainability |url-status=live |website=[[Framework]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Framework Laptop 13 Repair |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Framework_Laptop |url-status=live |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref>
|-
|Home Assistant
|Open-source smart home platform that provides local control, automation, and interoperability for a wide range of smart home devices. Provides support for many cloud devices after they're subject to [[discontinuation bricking]].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129222300/https://www.home-assistant.io/ |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Noctua
|Extremely long support for old products and availability of upgrade kits
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |date=19 Feb 2026 |title=The Last CPU Cooler You Will Ever Buy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Numatic International
|A UK based manufacture of commercial and consumer wet/dry floor cleaning products (vacuums, scrubbers, floor buffers) that provides a robust library of technical documents, parts breakdowns, data sheets and training for free on both new and existing products without the need to login, pay additional fees or be an approved repair facility.
|
|-
|Oral-B
|When installing the Android App, there is no login, and the user is asked for analytics tracking consent.
|
|-
|Orange Pi (Shenzhen Xunlong Software Co., Ltd.)
|Commitment to Open Source Hardware and Transparency. (written with help of AI)
Public Schematics, Open Documentation (extensive datasheets for the SoCs), Right to Repair Friendly by using standardized components and providing the "map" (schematics) to the board. Community-Centric: hey actively support the "maker" ecosystem by allowing third-party OS developers (like Armbian) easy access to the hardware information needed to keep older boards running for a decade or more.
|http://www.orangepi.org/index.html
http://www.orangepi.org/html/serviceAndSupport/index.html
|-
|Philips
|Added files for replacement parts to Printables so you can 3D print parts for your Philips products
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philips |url=https://www.printables.com/@Philips |url-status=live |website=Printables}}</ref>
|-
|ratgdo
|A garage door opener controller developed by Paul Wieland, allowing you to locally control it (namely Chamberlain openers that would otherwise require the MyQ app for smart home features).
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wieland |first=Paul |title=About - ratgdo |url=https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213022055/https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Reticulum
|Reticulum is an open-source, decentralized networking stack designed to communicate between practically any wireless device, even without internet. Its purpose is to provide fully anonymous end-to-end encrypted communication by default, especially in the age of government surveillance. The Reticulum network, protocol, and hardware are not tied any company in particular but were initially created by Github user 'markqvist'. Honorable mention to NomadNet, which is a network of nodes that serve webpages, similar to the internet, that communicate via Reticulum.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=markqvist |title=Reticulum Network |url=https://reticulum.network/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Reticulum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222180553/https://reticulum.network/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|RME Audio
|Audio equipment manufacturer that provides reliable, high-quality audio interfaces and equipment with driver and firmware support that spans 15+ years. Extensive documentation and support for both Mac, Windows, and USB Class-Compliant machines on all of their products across several OS generations ensures compatibility, transparency, and a dedication for keeping old hardware alive.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME Downloads |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/downloads.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref>
|-
|stevesgames.co.uk
|Will never put ads or in-app purchases in their computer games and will make gamees available for free after securing the companys future.
|
|-
|Sweetwater Sound
|The largest US-focused audio and music retailer that offers one of the best customer support systems to customers. Provides near 24x7 support with each customer being designated to a dedicated "sales engineer" who becomes the primary point of contact, with support networks that have direct contact to product vendors. Also contributes to more than 600 non-profits across the US. Also keeps outdated or obsolete product pages online as references, acting as a sort of music product database for most audio vendors.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Apr 2026 |title=Why Choose Sweetwater? |url=https://www.sweetwater.com/about/why-choose-sweetwater/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 Apr 2026 |website=Sweetwater.com}}</ref>
|-
|Tektronix
|Provided extensive product data on unsupported products to a museum, vintageTEK, and thus to tekwiki and the rest of the community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenihan |first=Thomas F. |date=2012-02-28 |title=Copyright Notice |url=https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828004431/https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |archive-date=2025-08-28 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=vintageTEK museum}}</ref>
|-
|Ulanzi
|The company offers a tutorial on how users can mix their own fog juice to use with Ulanzi mini fog machines from readily available low-cost ingredients, whereas competitors sell proprietary fog juice at extortionate prices, refuse to release the formula and refuse to honour the warranty if users use anything but the OEM brand with their machines.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutorial {{!}} How to DIY Ulanzi FM01 Fog Machine Juice? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM |type=Video}} ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM Archived])</ref>
|-
|ZSA
|This company produces programmable ergonomic keyboards. They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for one of their keyboards <ref>{{Cite web |title=ErgoDox EZ Keyboard Repairability Assessment |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/ErgoDox+EZ+Keyboard+Repairability+Assessment/125077}}</ref>. They also support right to repair themselves <ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting the Right to Repair |url=https://blog.zsa.io/2105-right-to-repair/}}</ref>. They have their own web software to modify keyboard layout <ref>{{Cite web |title=Voyager default layout |url=https://configure.zsa.io/voyager/layouts/default/latest/2}}</ref>, but it's possible to download source code of your layout and compile and flash it yourself using their fork of the QMK <ref>{{Cite web |title=QMK, forked for ZSA's Oryx Configurator (to safeguard stability) |url=https://github.com/zsa/qmk_firmware/}}</ref>. The flashing can be done with standard tools, without any signing and bootloader unlocking.
|
|}

==See also==
*[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]]
*[[Other Channels - Video Directory|Other Channels - Video Directory]]

==Reference List==
<references />

Motorola Smart Feed Amazon affiliate hijacking

2026-05-29T15:11:40Z

Neige: Archives

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Motorola
|StartDate=2026-05
|EndDate=2026-05-27
|Description=Preinstalled Motorola Smart Feed app silently rerouted Amazon Shopping launches through an affiliate tracker, capturing commission on organic purchases.
}}

'''Motorola Smart Feed Amazon affiliate hijacking''' was a May 2026 incident in which a preinstalled system app on several Motorola smartphones, Smart Feed version 2.03.0070, silently intercepted user attempts to open the Amazon Shopping app from the device's app drawer & rerouted the launch through Google Chrome to an ad-tech intermediary (devicenative.com) that appended the Amazon Associates affiliate tag <code>sramz-kff-008-20</code> before delivering the user to Amazon.<ref name="9to5g-may25">{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=2026-05-25 |title=Motorola phones have started hijacking the Amazon app to insert affiliate codes |url=https://9to5google.com/2026/05/25/motorola-amazon-app-hijacking-behavior/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527081338/https://9to5google.com/2026/05/25/motorola-amazon-app-hijacking-behavior/ |archive-date=27 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-27 |publisher=9to5Google}}</ref><ref name="ac-may27">{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Nickolas |date=2026-05-27 |title=Motorola was accused of slipping an affiliate link to users' Amazon purchases when using the app, discovered on its recent 2026 foldables |url=https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/motorola/motorola-affiliate-codes-your-amazon-orders-states-this-was-unintended |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260528044937/https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/motorola/motorola-affiliate-codes-your-amazon-orders-states-this-was-unintended |archive-date=28 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-27 |publisher=Android Central}}</ref> TechRadar wrote that Motorola was, in effect, quietly collecting an affiliate fee on every Amazon purchase its users made from the app drawer.<ref name="techradar">{{Cite web |date=2026-05-26 |title=Is this the Honey scandal all over again? Motorola phones caught adding affiliate codes to Amazon orders |url=https://www.techradar.com/phones/motorola-phones/is-this-the-honey-scandal-all-over-again-motorola-phones-caught-adding-affiliate-codes-to-amazon-orders |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260528151038/https://www.techradar.com/phones/motorola-phones/is-this-the-honey-scandal-all-over-again-motorola-phones-caught-adding-affiliate-codes-to-amazon-orders |archive-date=28 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=TechRadar}}</ref> Motorola, a [[Lenovo]] subsidiary, called the behavior ''"unintended"'' on May 27, 2026 & deployed a server-side routing-configuration fix the same day.<ref name="9to5g-may27">{{Cite web |date=2026-05-27 |title=Motorola says Amazon app affiliate behavior was "unintended," routing config fixed |url=https://9to5google.com/2026/05/27/motorola-amazon-app-unintended/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260528100732/https://9to5google.com/2026/05/27/motorola-amazon-app-unintended/ |archive-date=28 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-27 |publisher=9to5Google}}</ref>

==Background==

Smart Feed is a hidden, preinstalled system component on Motorola Android devices that powers the ''"app search and suggestion experience"'' inside the Moto App Launcher.<ref name="9to5g-may27" /><ref name="ac-may27" /> The component is built into Motorola's launcher and is capable of intercepting the click action that fires when a user taps an icon in the app drawer.<ref name="9to5g-may25" />

Device Native, an ad-tech firm that markets itself as a provider of ''"personalized, on-device mobile ads,"'' built the integration jointly with Motorola & published a developer guide for the Moto App Launcher before the incident became public.<ref name="ap">{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Rajesh |date=2026-05-26 |title=Your Motorola phone might be secretly monetizing your Amazon clicks |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/motorola-phone-might-secretly-monetizing-your-amazon-clicks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527100223/https://www.androidpolice.com/motorola-phone-might-secretly-monetizing-your-amazon-clicks/ |archive-date=27 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=Android Police}}</ref><ref name="msyrup">{{Cite web |date=2026-05-27 |title=Motorola confirms its phones were 'hijacking' the Amazon app |url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2026/05/27/motorola-confirms-its-phones-were-hijacking-the-amazon-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/6egio |archive-date=29 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=MobileSyrup}}</ref>

Lenovo, Motorola's parent, has a prior Federal Trade Commission settlement over preinstalled-software misconduct (see [[#Lenovo's prior Superfish settlement|below]]).

==The interception==

Smart Feed v2.03.0070 was the only build to exhibit the redirect. Devices on the prior build, v2.03.0056, did not exhibit it, & the redirect only fired when the user launched Amazon from the app drawer; opening Amazon from a home-screen shortcut, the recent-apps menu, or a widget bypassed the interception entirely.<ref name="9to5g-may25" /><ref name="newsx">{{Cite web |last=Ziyauddin |first=Syed |date=2026-05-27 |title=Motorola Smart Feed Controversy: Users Claim Amazon App Launches Were Hijacked With Hidden Affiliate Links |url=https://www.newsx.com/tech-and-auto/motorola-smart-feed-controversy-users-claim-amazon-app-launches-were-hijacked-with-hidden-affiliate-links-226594/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260528064914/https://www.newsx.com/tech-and-auto/motorola-smart-feed-controversy-users-claim-amazon-app-launches-were-hijacked-with-hidden-affiliate-links-226594/ |archive-date=28 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=NewsX}}</ref>

An Android Debug Bridge (ADB) network log captured by a user who reported it on May 25, 2026 first surfaced the behavior publicly, showing Smart Feed firing a click action against the Amazon Shopping app & a background HTTP request to devicenative.com to fetch the targeting & affiliate parameters. 9to5Google reproduced the behavior on a Motorola Razr Fold the same day, publishing a video that captured a brief Chrome window flashing on the screen before Amazon opened, & described the user-visible flow as a ''"blink and you missed it"'' moment.<ref name="9to5g-may25" />

Tapping the Amazon Shopping icon in the Moto App Launcher's app drawer triggered the following sequence: Smart Feed intercepted the launch intent; Chrome briefly opened in the foreground; Chrome issued a request to devicenative.com, which redirected through a second domain, <code>kira-abboud.com</code>; that domain in turn issued a redirect to amazon.com carrying the affiliate tag <code>sramz-kff-008-20</code>; finally the Amazon Shopping app opened with the affiliate cookie attached to the session.<ref name="9to5g-may25" /><ref name="newsx" />

Independent reproduction by tech press confirmed the behavior on the Motorola Razr Fold & the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra.<ref name="9to5g-may25" /><ref name="ap" /> Notebookcheck reported that the Motorola Edge 70 ships with the same preinstalled Smart Feed app.<ref name="nbc">{{Cite web |last=Brecher |first=Hannes |date=2026-05-26 |title=Motorola smartphones hijack shopping apps to make money from sales |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Motorola-smartphones-hijack-shopping-apps-to-make-money-from-sales.1306845.0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527165309/https://www.notebookcheck.net/Motorola-smartphones-hijack-shopping-apps-to-make-money-from-sales.1306845.0.html |archive-date=27 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=Notebookcheck}}</ref> 9to5Google tested a Motorola Razr (2026) & a Moto G Stylus (2026) running the same Smart Feed build & could not reproduce the redirect on either, indicating the targeting configuration on Device Native's server was scoped to a subset of US devices rather than to every install of v2.03.0070.<ref name="9to5g-may25" /> Motorola later stated that the issue was limited to users in the United States.<ref name="9to5g-may27" />

==The intermediary domain and the affiliate tag==

The second hop in the redirect chain, <code>kira-abboud.com</code>, presents the branding of fashion influencer Kira Abboud, who publishes on social media under the handle @kirasfashionfinds.<ref name="9to5g-may25" /><ref name="ap" /> Journalists who compared the injected tag against the affiliate codes Abboud publishes on her own channels found that <code>sramz-kff-008-20</code> did not match any of her published tags, & no reporting surfaced any evidence of a direct relationship between Abboud & Motorola or Device Native.<ref name="9to5g-may25" /><ref name="droidlife">{{Cite web |date=2026-05-26 |title=Motorola phones are hijacking links to make affiliate cash |url=https://www.droid-life.com/2026/05/26/motorola-phones-are-hijacking-links-to-make-affiliate-cash/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260528181729/https://www.droid-life.com/2026/05/26/motorola-phones-are-hijacking-links-to-make-affiliate-cash/ |archive-date=28 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-27 |publisher=Droid Life}}</ref> Reporters at Droid Life & Android Police described the most plausible reading as the influencer's brand being used as a shell by an intermediary in the ad network, with the ultimate recipient of the Amazon Associates payouts unknown to the public.<ref name="droidlife" /><ref name="ap" />

The entity collecting the commissions tied to <code>sramz-kff-008-20</code> has not been publicly identified in any reporting on the incident.<ref name="droidlife" /><ref name="ap" />

==Revenue impact==

Because Smart Feed injected its tag every time a user opened the Amazon app from the drawer, any subsequent purchase the user made on Amazon credited the injected tag rather than the user's own browsing path. TechRadar summarized the effect as Motorola ''"quietly"'' collecting an affiliate fee on purchases it had no involvement in.<ref name="techradar" /> Notebookcheck observed that the practice does not raise the prices consumers pay; instead, the manufacturer extracts a sales commission from Amazon's affiliate program without disclosure.<ref name="nbc" />

TechRadar & Mashable both drew the parallel to the [[Honey (PayPal) browser extension affiliate hijacking|Honey]] class action against PayPal, in which a browser extension was accused of swapping creators' affiliate codes for its own at checkout.<ref name="techradar" /><ref name="mashable">{{Cite web |last=Binder |first=Matt |date=2026-05-26 |title=Motorola phones are reportedly injecting affiliate codes into the Amazon app |url=https://tech.yahoo.com/phones/articles/motorola-phones-reportedly-injecting-affiliate-173417588.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/SfEOC |archive-date=29 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=Mashable |via=Yahoo Tech}}</ref>

==Motorola's response==

Device Native made no public statement during or after the incident. The company removed its Moto App Launcher integration guide & subsequently took down the rest of its public-facing developer documentation site.<ref name="msyrup" /><ref name="9to5g-may25" />

Motorola issued a statement to multiple press outlets on May 27, 2026. A Motorola spokesperson told 9to5Google, Android Central, & other outlets:

<blockquote>''Motorola and Device Native jointly developed an app search and suggestion experience for the Moto App Launcher, designed to help users quickly find and launch apps they already have installed on their devices. Recently, Motorola acted quickly to resolve an issue that was identified, which caused some users in the U.S. launching the Amazon Shopping app to be routed through a web tracking link before opening the app. This behavior was unintended and resulted in an inconsistent user experience. Upon identifying the issue, we promptly corrected the routing configuration. Users can now expect all installed apps to launch directly as intended. Motorola takes user experience, privacy, and platform integrity seriously and will continue to closely monitor the system to ensure expected behavior across devices. We are committed to responsible disclosure, and to transparent, collaborative engagement with researchers to identify and address potential issues swiftly.''</blockquote><ref name="9to5g-may27" /><ref name="ac-may27" />

The fix was deployed server-side as a routing-configuration change, ending the redirects on affected devices without requiring users to install an updated version of Smart Feed.<ref name="9to5g-may27" /><ref name="msyrup" />

==Legal context==

===Honey class action===

The pending litigation TechRadar & Mashable pointed to is ''Wendover Productions, LLC et al. v. PayPal Inc.'', filed in California federal court & consolidated with more than two dozen similar actions into ''In re PayPal Honey Browser Extension Litigation''.<ref name="orrick">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-03 |title=PayPal Secures Another Victory in Consolidated Honey Browser Extension Cases |url=https://www.orrick.com/en/News/2025/12/PayPal-Secures-Another-Victory-in-Consolidated-Honey-Browser-Extension-Cases |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260324191516/https://www.orrick.com/en/news/2025/12/paypal-secures-another-victory-in-consolidated-honey-browser-extension-cases |archive-date=24 March 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP}}</ref><ref name="cohen-milstein">{{Cite web |title=In Re PayPal Honey Browser Extension Litigation |url=https://www.cohenmilstein.com/case-study/in-re-paypal-honey-browser-extension-litigation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260314142115/https://www.cohenmilstein.com/case-study/in-re-paypal-honey-browser-extension-litigation/ |archive-date=14 March 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC}}</ref> The plaintiffs, content creators including bloggers & social-media producers, allege that PayPal's Honey browser extension diverted their affiliate commissions by manipulating tracking cookies at checkout.<ref name="cohen-milstein" /> On November 21, 2025, the court dismissed the consolidated complaint without prejudice, ruling that the plaintiffs had not adequately pleaded a cognizable injury traceable to PayPal; the court granted leave to amend & the case remains active.<ref name="orrick" />

===Lenovo's prior Superfish settlement===

The Motorola incident is the second advertising-injection matter involving Lenovo-branded consumer hardware. Beginning in August 2014, Lenovo shipped consumer laptops with VisualDiscovery, advertising software developed by Superfish, Inc. that acted as a man-in-the-middle on encrypted web traffic to inject pop-up ads. In September 2017, Lenovo settled charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission & 32 state attorneys general over the practice; the FTC settlement prohibited Lenovo from misrepresenting features of preloaded ad-injecting or data-transmitting software, required Lenovo to obtain consumers' affirmative consent before pre-installing software of that kind, & required Lenovo to implement a software security program for most preloaded software for 20 years.<ref name="ftc-superfish">{{Cite web |date=2017-09-05 |title=Lenovo Settles FTC Charges it Harmed Consumers With Preinstalled Software on its Laptops that Compromised Online Security |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2017/09/lenovo-settles-ftc-charges-it-harmed-consumers-preinstalled-software-its-laptops-compromised-online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260419085802/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2017/09/lenovo-settles-ftc-charges-it-harmed-consumers-preinstalled-software-its-laptops-compromised-online |archive-date=19 April 2026 |access-date=2026-05-28 |publisher=Federal Trade Commission}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Lenovo]]
*[[Motorola]]
*[[Honey (PayPal) browser extension affiliate hijacking]]
*[[Superfish]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Motorola]]
[[Category:Lenovo]]
[[Category:Preinstalled software]]
[[Category:Affiliate marketing]]

BusPatrol

2026-05-28T13:51:40Z

Neige:

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2017-07-24
|Industry=Cameras, Security, Educational technology
|Logo=BusPatrol Logo.jpeg
|Type=LLC
|Website=https://buspatrol.com
|Description=BusPatrol uses AI security cameras inside school buses to scan for vehicles that engage in traffic violations.
}}[[BusPatrol]] is an AI surveillance and law enforcement aiding business. They make cameras that are installed in school buses that use Artificial Intelligence to detect traffic violations of nearby vehicles. Incidents are reviewed by a human and are then forwarded to the local relevant law enforcement agency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-07 |title=How Automated Stop-Arm Enforcement Programs Work {{!}} BusPatrol |url=https://buspatrol.com/stop-arm-overview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260414201824/https://buspatrol.com/stop-arm-overview/ |archive-date=2026-04-14 |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=BusPatrol}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==
====User Privacy====
School buses equipped with [[BusPatrol]]'s Automated Stop-Arm Enforcement collect "valuable data every time they stick out their stop signs".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duncan |first=Byard |date=26 Apr 2026 |title=The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets |url=https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2026/04/28/the-ai-school-bus-camera-company-blanketing-america-in-tickets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429130703/https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2026/04/28/the-ai-school-bus-camera-company-blanketing-america-in-tickets/ |archive-date=29 Apr 2026 |access-date= |website=Type Investigations}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Turn all existing installed cameras into ALPR cameras (''2026-05-26'')===
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
In May 2026 [[BusPatrol]] announced their plans to add ALPR to all of their existing installed AI powered cameras. With 40,000 buses across 24 states this would turn these cameras from target surveillance of traffic violators to dragnet style mass surveillance. Similar to [[Flock license plate readers|Flock ALPR Cameras]] this data would be given to law enforcement without the need for a warrant. "Internally, BusPatrol has acknowledged how controversial its plan to collect and share this data is, pointing specifically to concerns about ICE using license plate data, but emphasizes the likely success of selling the angle of protecting children."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Joseph |date=2026-05-26 |title=‘BusPatrol’ Put AI Cameras in Tens of Thousands of School Buses. Now They Want to Give Cops Access |url=https://www.404media.co/buspatrol-put-ai-cameras-in-tens-of-thousands-of-school-buses-now-they-want-to-give-cops-access/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260528100127/https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221261519 |archive-date=28 May 2026 |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=404media}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Flock Safety]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

BusPatrol

2026-05-28T03:26:32Z

Neige: Citation fix

BusPatrol

2026-05-28T03:21:19Z

Neige: Flock Safety link

BusPatrol

2026-05-28T03:16:44Z

Neige:

Flock Safety

2026-05-28T02:53:37Z

Neige: Ghost Archive

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2017
|Industry=Surveillance Technology
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.flocksafety.com,
|Description=Flock Safety is an American surveillance technology company that develops and operates a mass surveillance system combining automated license plate readers (LPRs), video surveillance cameras, gunshot detection, drones, and data analytics platforms used by thousands of law enforcement agencies and private entities across the United States.
|Logo=Flock Safety Logo (2025).svg
}}

'''{{Wplink|Flock Safety}}''' is a technology company that creates and operates an extensive surveillance network using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and related technologies.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=23 Oct 2025 |title=Highlights from Denver's Flock camera town hall – Mayor didn't show up |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Flock was founded in 2017 by Georgia Tech alumni Garrett Langley (CEO), Matt Feury (CTO), and Paige Todd (CPO), beginning as a side project where they built their first surveillance cameras by hand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edmonson |first=Crystal |date=22 Aug 2023 |title=Flock Safety cameras help police amid worker shortage, CEO Garrett Langley says |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/08/22/flock-safety-ceo-garrett-langley-podcast.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}</ref> The company operates on a "surveillance as a service" business model, owning and maintaining camera infrastructure while charging recurring fees to law enforcement agencies, private communities, and businesses for access to its surveillance data and network.<ref name="FlockFunding">{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2025 |title=Accelerating Innovation: Flock Secures $275 Million to Advance Crime-Solving Technology |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-secures-major-funding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/64KcV |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

As of mid-2025, independent reporting and public records indicate the Flock network comprised more than 80,000 AI-enabled cameras nationwide.<ref name="Koebler2025">{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media |date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=29 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Flock's materials state deployments in roughly 5,000 communities, and the company reports the system processes "over 20 billion" vehicle scans per month; these latter two figures are company-provided and should be read as Flock's claims rather than independently verified totals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2025 |title=City Leaders Choose Flock Safety: A Proven, Community-Focused Public Safety Solution |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/city-leaders-choose-flock-safety-a-proven-community-focused-public-safety-solution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mQzuY |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Real-Time Vehicle Leads, Nationwide |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/national-lpr-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mJ8nZ |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date= |title=FlockOS |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-os |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LrSjc |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

The company reported surpassing roughly $300 million in annual recurring revenue. In March 2025, it closed a $275 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, which independent reporting estimated valued the company at about $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hu |first=Krystal |date=13 Mar 2025 |title=US startup Flock Safety raises $275 million to fund manufacturing plant, R&D |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-startup-flock-safety-raises-275-million-fund-manufacturing-plant-rd-2025-03-13/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520154614/https://www.justthearticleplease.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Ftechnology%2Fus-startup-flock-safety-raises-275-million-fund-manufacturing-plant-rd-2025-03-13%2F |archive-date=20 May 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Reuters}}</ref> As of 2025, the company has raised a total of $957.5 million in funding.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=MacBride |first=Elizabeth |title=Flock Safety: 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |website=CNBC |date=10 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612102045/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |archive-date=12 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
===Privacy===
Critics, including civil liberties organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that Flock's mass surveillance network violates privacy rights and represents a form of constant public monitoring that differs fundamentally from traditional, fleeting police observation.<ref name="ACLUStanley">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock's Aggressive Expansions Go Far Beyond Simple Driver Surveillance |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=18 Aug 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819025249/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |archive-date=19 Aug 2025}}</ref> A lawsuit filed in 2024 challenges the constitutionality of warrant-less searches of ALPR databases; courts have split on the issue in different jurisdictions, and rulings continue to be appealed. For example, a federal complaint in ''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (E.D. Va.) alleges repeated location logging by ALPRs, while appellate activity in related Virginia cases continued into 2025. Readers should consult the cited court documents and reporting for further developments.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Collier |first=Kevin |title=Police cameras tracked one driver 526 times in four months, lawsuit says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |website=NBC News |date=18 Sep 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918133508/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=14 Oct 2025 |title=Flock Applauds Virginia Court of Appeals Ruling Affirming Constitutionality of LPR Cameras |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-applauds-virginia-court-of-appeals-ruling-affirming-constitutionality-of-lpr-cameras |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/JbcMV |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The system does not offer a public opt-out mechanism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement |url=https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |website=University of Washington Center for Human Rights
|date=21 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251113234912/https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> This raised concerns about the potential for misuse, profiling, and long-term monitoring of individuals and their associations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Sarah |last2=Alajaji |first2=Rindala |title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=27 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628052030/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |archive-date=28 Jun 2025}}</ref>

Specific privacy violations include:
*Warrant-less tracking and data sharing: Flock's business model enables a nationwide data-sharing network that allows thousands of law enforcement agencies to access location data without warrants or reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.<ref name="ACLUStanley" />

*Expanded audio surveillance: In 2025, Flock announced that its Raven gunshot detection systems would begin listening for "human distress" sounds, such as screaming, expanding beyond gunshot detection to voice monitoring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guariglia |first=Matthew |title=Flock's Gunshot Detection Microphones Will Start Listening for Human Voices
|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=2 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251029213640/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |archive-date=29 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Undermining state shield laws: Despite state laws protecting healthcare access, out-of-state officers from jurisdictions that criminalize abortion or gender-affirming care can access Flock data on residents of protective states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maass |first=Dave |title=Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007134746/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Immigration enforcement: Research from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights documented systematic access to Flock data by federal immigration authorities, often in violation of state laws.<ref name=":0" /> This occurred through three methods: "front door" access, where agencies directly shared data with Border Patrol; "back door" access via a default "National Lookup" setting that granted federal access without explicit local authorization; and "side door" searches where local officers ran searches on behalf of ICE.<ref name=":0" />

*Contractual privacy overreach: The ACLU of Massachusetts found that Flock's default service agreement grants the company a "worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free" license to disclose agency data for "investigative purposes," even if a local police department has chosen to restrict data-sharing with other agencies.<ref name="ACLUStanley2">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock Can Share Driver-Surveillance Data Even When Police Departments Opt Out, And Other Flock Developments |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024234020/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Business model===
Flock Safety operates on a subscription-based "safety-as-a-service" model.<ref name="Sacra">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety revenue, growth rate & funding |url=https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |website=Sacra |url-access=limited |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251123150450/https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |archive-date=23 Nov 2025}}</ref> The company charges approximately $2,500 per camera annually, plus a one-time installation fee.<ref name="Sacra" /> This subscription includes maintenance, software updates, and data hosting. Forbes reported in 2025 that a single license plate reader camera costs between $3,000 and $3,500, with additional fees for the FlockOS platform.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=AI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In America |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |website=Forbes |date=3 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903144312/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref> This model has proven highly successful, with the company reporting over $300 million in annual recurring revenue as of 2024, reflecting a 70% year-over-year increase.<ref name="FlockFunding" />

Flock's AI-enabled cameras capture detailed vehicle "[[Device fingerprint|fingerprints]]" — including make, model, color, bumper stickers, damages, and other distinguishing characteristics — in addition to license plates,<ref name=":4" /> with footage retained for thirty days before deletion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Mar 2019 |title=How Flock Safety Eliminates Neighborhood Crime While Protecting Resident Privacy |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/how-flock-safety-protects-resident-privacy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tRLU8 |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The company's network benefits from strong network effects. Investor Andreessen Horowitz has stated the system's power grows with adoption, as "digital evidence can be pooled across different law enforcement agencies," creating network effects that increase surveillance capabilities as more agencies join.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulevitch
|first=David |last2=George |first2=David |title=Investing in Flock Safety |url=https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |website=Andreessen Horowitz |date=13 Jul 2021 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928171419/https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |archive-date=28 Sep 2023}}</ref> As cameras are deployed across more jurisdictions, participating agencies gain access to a broader shared data pool.

Flock initially focused on homeowner's associations — which still account for roughly 40% of its business — before expanding rapidly into law enforcement and enterprise sectors, illustrating a "land-and-expand" growth strategy.<ref name="Sacra" /> Major venture capital firms have invested heavily, signaling strong market confidence. In March 2025, a funding round of $275 million was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Green Oaks Capital, Bedrock Capital, and Tiger Global, among others, valuing the company at $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pavri |first=Rezwan D. |last2=Conklin |first2=Colin G. |title=Wilson Sonsini Advises Flock Safety on $275 Million Financing |url=https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |website=Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati |date=14 Mar 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315234904/https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |archive-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> Major corporate clients include retailers like {{Wplink|Lowe's}} and {{Wplink|FedEx}}, mall operator {{Wplink|Simon Property Group}}, and healthcare provider {{Wplink|Kaiser Permanente}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=America's Biggest Mall Owner Is Sharing AI Surveillance Feeds Directly With Cops |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |website=Forbes |date=6 May 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203012902/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=FedEx's Secretive Police Force Is Helping Cops Build An AI Car Surveillance Network |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |website=Forbes |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128023325/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Strategic acquisitions and infrastructure investment fuel the company's expansion. Following its acquisition of Aerodome in October 2024, Flock Safety is building a 100,000-square-foot U.S.A. manufacturing facility for drone production.<ref name=":1" />

==Surveillance technology==
{{Main|Flock license plate readers}}

Flock Safety offers an integrated ecosystem of surveillance hardware and software marketed as a public safety platform.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date= |title=Flock Safety Product Hub |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/nrO4U |archive-date=27 May 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The hardware component includes solar-powered ALPRs;<ref name=":2" /> video cameras with AI-powered analytics for people and vehicle detection;<ref name=":2" /> acoustic sensors that identify gunshots and breaking glass for real-time alerts;<ref name=":2" /> and drones acquired through Aerodome for "drone as first responder" systems automatically dispatched to emergency calls.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Oct 2024 |title=Flock Expands Into Drones |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/GZwp4 |archive-date=20 May 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

Specific product models include the Falcon and Sparrow license plate readers, as well as the Raven gunshot detection system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz-Lecabe |first=Mike |title=Dissection of Flock Safety Camera |url=https://www.chrp.org/blog/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera |website=The Center for Human Rights and Privacy |date=1 Apr 2022 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430151222/https://www.cehrp.org/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera/ |archive-date=30 Apr 2022}}</ref> Flock's software integrates with police vehicle systems, including widely-used {{Wplink|Axon Enterprise|Axon}} dashcams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axon Partners with Flock Safety to Enhance Security for Cities and Neighborhoods |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |website=PR Newswire |date=2 Apr 2020 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404123408/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |archive-date=4 Apr 2020}}</ref>

The software platform includes FlockOS, a real-time crime center platform that enables users to view maps and geographic data, body camera and drone feeds, 911 call data, as well as traffic camera and acoustic sensor data.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Aug 2025 |title=The Evolution of FlockOS: How Customer Feedback Continues to Shape the Future |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/the-evolution-of-flockos-how-customer-feedback-continues-to-shape-the-future |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/PaFQu |archive-date=25 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> FlockOS enables the National LPR Network, a nationwide database for sharing and searching LPR data across jurisdictions; and Flock Nova, a data analytics platform that integrates LPR data with law enforcement systems, such as Records Management Systems (RMS) and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), to identify patterns.<ref name=":2" />

==Incidents==
===The FBI is accused in pending lawsuit to use Flock data to "create a domestic terrorist" (February 2026)===
In a recent reporting by LegalEagle on Youtube https://youtu.be/ZRZoGc3Wdpo?t=1138 at timestamp 18:58, court documents are shown where law enforcement collects 30 days of movements from Flock cameras (after the fact) in efforts to "construct the appearance the person is a domestic terrorist". The release of this footage was denied to ensure people not know where the cameras are in order to avoid them. This was a part of the ICE operation "Midway Blitz".
===Wrongful package theft accusation in Bow Mar, Colorado (September 2025)===
On 27 September 2025, Columbine Valley Police Sgt. Jamie Milliman wrongfully accused Denver resident Chrisanna Elser of package theft, relying exclusively on Flock Safety license plate reader data that placed her vehicle in Bow Mar during the robbery.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Andrew |title=Police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of package theft. She had her own evidence |url=https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |website=Denverite |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028180112/https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |archive-date=28 Oct 2025}}</ref> The officer asserted "zero doubt" about her guilt, telling her verbatim, "It is locked in. There is zero doubt. I wouldn't have come here unless I was 100% sure." He also bragged about the extensive surveillance network, stating "You can't get a breath of fresh air, in or out of that place, without us knowing."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Prentzel |first=Olivia |title=After police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of theft, she had to prove her own innocence |url=https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |website=The Colorado Sun |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112221400/https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> When Elser denied the accusation, Milliman refused to show her the supposed evidence, stating, "You have not been honest with me, so I'm not going to extend you any courtesy of showing you a video when I don't need to."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coon |first=Anna |title=Police use Flock cameras to wrongfully accuse Denver woman of theft |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |website=KDVR |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103031304/https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> Elser was compelled to compile extensive exculpatory evidence, including dashcam footage, Google Timeline data, witness statements, and surveillance images from her tailor. She ultimately submitted a seven-page affidavit and a voluminous Google Drive folder to prove her innocence.<ref name=":5" /> The summons was voided several weeks later after Police Chief Bret Cottrell reviewed her evidence, writing, "After reviewing the evidence you have provided (nicely done btw), we have voided the summons that was issued." However, the department provided neither an apology nor an explanation.<ref name=":6" />

===Denver contract and surveillance controversy (October 2025 ongoing)===
On 22 October 2025, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unilaterally renewed the city's contract with Flock Safety through an emergency executive order just hours before a town hall protest, after the Denver City Council had unanimously rejected the contract 12-0.<ref name="cbsdenver">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Chierstin |title=Some on the Denver City Council upset after Mayor Mike Johnston moves forward with controversial Flock cameras |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |website=CBS News Colorado |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030171650/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |archive-date=30 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name="coloradopolitics">{{Cite web |last=Grigsby |first=Deborah |title=Anger grows as Denver mayor extends Flock camera contract |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |website=Colorado Politics |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024231906/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> The council's rejection was due to a lack of guardrails around data access and privacy concerns.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> The mayor's move, described by Councilwoman Shontel Lewis as "'king' behavior," bypassed the democratic process and sparked immediate public backlash.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> A town hall protest organized by consumer advocate Louis Rossmann drew close to 700 attendees, filling a main conference room and overflow spaces.<ref name="coloradopolitics" /><ref name=":7" /> Rossmann had also published a guide for residents to oppose the cameras.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=A guide to de‑flocking Denver: here's EXACTLY what you need to do, step‑by‑step. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |website=[[YouTube]] |date=20 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> The new, no-cost five-month extension included new safeguards, such as a $100,000 fine on Flock for any unauthorized data sharing and cutting off access for all jurisdictions outside of the Denver Police Department.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" /> The mayor's office cited the technology's role in recovering stolen vehicles and solving homicides, while critics remained concerned about executive overreach and the system's potential for misuse.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" />

===Data sharing with federal immigration authorities (Ongoing)===
Federal immigration enforcement agencies systematically accessed Flock's license plate data through multiple methods despite state laws prohibiting such sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler
|first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows |url=https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |website=404 Media |date=27 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527141200/https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |archive-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> This included direct "front door" access where at least eight Washington law enforcement agencies enabled 1:1 data sharing with the U.S. Border Patrol,<ref name=":0" /> "back door" access where Border Patrol searched data from at least ten Washington police departments without explicit authorization,<ref name=":0" /> and "side door" searches where local officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" into search fields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media
|date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Internal Flock data revealed that CBP had access to more than 80,000 cameras nationwide, with searches conducted in multiple states, potentially violating state sanctuary laws.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=John |title=License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies among investigation concerns |url=https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |website=ABC7 |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827010855/https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |archive-date=27 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Investigation of abortion seeker (May 2025)===
A Johnson County, Texas sheriff's officer conducted a nationwide surveillance operation using Flock Safety's network to track a woman who had a self-managed abortion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion |url=https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |website=404 Media |date=29 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529181049/https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |archive-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> The search spanned 6,809 different Flock networks and queried data from over 83,000 cameras across multiple states.<ref name=":0" /> The officer specifically searched Flock camera data from Yakima and Prosser, Washington, accessing surveillance data from jurisdictions where abortion is legally protected to investigate someone from a restrictive state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime |url=https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |website=404 Media |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007135454/https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> While police initially claimed the surveillance was for the woman's "safety," internal documents revealed the case was officially logged as a "death investigation" and detectives had consulted the district attorney about charging the woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Gideon |title=Flock Gives Law Enforcement All Over the Country Access to Your Location |url=https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |website=ACLU Massachusetts |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018052911/https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> The incident sparked a congressional investigation and led to multiple jurisdictions re-evaluating their Flock contracts over concerns about reproductive rights surveillance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=I'm Hearing About More Pushback Against Flock, Fueled by Concern Over Anti-Immigrant Uses |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |website=ACLU |date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821161654/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Paused federal pilots and systemic data sharing with federal agencies (August 2025)===
Flock Safety announced it was pausing all ongoing pilot programs with Department of Homeland Security agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Langley |first=Garrett |date=25 Aug 2025 |title=Ensuring Local Compliance |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/ensuring-local-compliance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tdOCI |archive-date=25 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The company stated this pause was to "ensure local compliance" and admitted its previous public statements had "inadvertently provided inaccurate information" about the level of federal access to its network.<ref name=":3" />

This decision followed investigations revealing systemic data sharing with federal immigration authorities that potentially violated state laws in Washington, Illinois, and other states with sanctuary protections.<ref name=":0" /> A University of Washington Center for Human Rights report documented three methods of federal access:

*Front door access: At least eight Washington law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Yakima and Wenatchee, enabled direct data sharing with U.S. Border Patrol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee">{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Jordan |title=Flock Safety setting allowed U.S. Border Patrol access to Wenatchee Valley license plate data without police knowledge |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |website=The Wenatchee World |date=27 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103210114/https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref>

*Back door access: A default "National Lookup" setting allowed Border Patrol to access data from at least ten Washington agencies without explicit authorization. Police chiefs in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee stated they were unaware of this setting and disabled it upon discovery.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee" />

*Side door searches: Law enforcement officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" or "illegal immigration" into search fields.<ref name=":0" /> A public interest law firm noted Flock's pause of direct federal access does little to prevent this workaround, as "federal law enforcement cannot directly access this trove of information; they can just ask other Flock customers to run searches or share log-in information."<ref name="ij">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Dan |title=Public Interest Law Firm Responds to Flock Safety Pausing Federal Access to License Plate Reader Cameras |url=https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |website=Institute for Justice |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925231824/https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |archive-date=25 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Consumer complaints about business practices===
Multiple independent user reviews on {{Wplink|Trustpilot}}, as well as reports from legal advocacy groups, detail a range of consumer complaints against Flock Safety. These issues span predatory billing practices, unreliable hardware, inadequate customer support, and concerns over the value and ethics of the service.

*Predatory billing and contract issues: Customers report aggressive auto-renewal practices. One review alleges the company sent termination notices to the incorrect party and then enforced an auto-renewed two-year contract for nearly $10,000, demanding payment because the customer did not provide a thirty-day termination notice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiala |first=Steven |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steven Fiala on 1/8/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |website=Trustpilot |date=8 Jan 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108013844/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer claimed the company would not offer a refund for cameras they found to be useless, describing the system as a "rip off."<ref name="TrustPilot RR">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Ruben |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Ruben Rodriguez on 10/13/2023 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |website=Trustpilot |date=13 Oct 2023 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108014407/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> The Institute for Justice has raised concerns that Flock tries to "lock customers into its products."<ref name="ij" />

*Poor camera reliability and performance: Reviews frequently cite hardware failures and poor video quality. One neighborhood reported that a camera, costing $4,000 per year, was operational for only nine days before failing and had been offline for 25% of its total service time.<ref name="TrustPilot SE">{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Steve |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steve Elliott on 6/20/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |website=Trustpilot |date=20 Jun 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108020837/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer complained that the cameras are "not live" and lack night vision, concluding that a "$300 video camera system from Harbor Freight is 100% better."<ref name="TrustPilot RR" />

*Inadequate customer support: Numerous complaints have been made about poor customer service, particularly among smaller communities and organizations. One reviewer felt that the company is "focused on big city/county government contracts" and that "little guys are at the back of the line for support."<ref name="TrustPilot SE" /> The company's profile on TrustPilot indicates that it has not replied to negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |website=TrustPilot |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108022250/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |archive-date=8 Jan 2026 |quote=Hasn’t replied to negative reviews}}</ref>

*Ethical and legal concerns: Some criticisms extend beyond business practices to the product's societal impact. Major civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have published analyses raising significant privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley" /> The ACLU has also published analyses raising considerable privacy concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley2" />

==Lawsuits==
===''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (18 September 2025)===
A lawsuit in Norfolk, VA, revealed that the city's ALPR system has logged the location of a plaintiff's vehicle 526 times in 4 months.<ref name=":9" /> The second plaintiff had their vehicle's position logged 849 times in a similar time period. The ALPR system is provided by Flock to the Norfolk Police Department in a deal costing $2.2 million, in return for Flock providing services through to the end of 2027. The camera installation began in 2023 and, at present, there are 176 cameras around the city. The lawsuit is requesting that the plaintiff's data be deleted and the cameras be turned off, arguing that these actions constitute an infringement of the Fourth Amendment and a warrant-less search. Flock counters this assertion by claiming that "LPRs do not constitute a warrant-less search because they take point-in-time photos of cars in public and cannot continuously track the movements of any individual." This legal position was supported by a ruling from the Virginia Court of Appeals in October 2025, which reversed a lower court and found that warrant-less use of Flock's system does not violate the Fourth Amendment.<ref name=":10" />

===''United States v. Martin'' (11 October 2024)===
In ''United States v. Martin'' (E.D. Va.), the district court denied a motion to suppress evidence obtained via an ALPR network, issuing a memorandum opinion on 11 October 2024. The court concluded that the images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles on public roads and therefore did not establish a reasonable expectation of privacy for purposes of the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Robert E. |title=MEMORANDUM OPINION, United States v. Martin, No. 3:23-cr-150 (E.D. Va. Oct. 11, 2024) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |url-access=limited |website=vLex |date=11 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108024629/https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> 

Legal commentators have treated the ruling as a persuasive decision supporting warrant-less searches of ALPR/Flock databases in that jurisdiction; however, it remains a district-court decision and not binding precedent outside the Eastern District of Virginia. Courts in other jurisdictions have reached different conclusions on the warrant requirements for ALPR searches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grosdidier |first=Pierre |title=Authorities can search Flock databases without a warrant |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |website=Texas Bar Journal |date=Apr 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418012511/https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |archive-date=18 Apr 2025}}</ref>

===Public records lawsuits in Washington (2025)===
Multiple public-records disputes over Flock camera data have led to litigation in Washington. In one high-profile example, the cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood filed a declaratory-judgment action in Skagit County (Case No. 25-2-00717-29), asking a court to declare that images and data stored in Flock's AWS cloud are not "public records" under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA) unless and until a public agency accesses and downloads them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guildner |first=Emily |title=City of Sedro-Woolley and City of Stanwood v. Jose Rodriguez — Complaint for Declaratory Judgment |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |website=Scribd |date=16 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221830/https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The dispute became contested in multiple forums after the requester filed his own suit and responsive filings, alleging that the cities had violated the PRA. While the litigation proceeds, some municipalities have paused or disabled Flock camera deployments pending a judicial ruling on whether the raw images and data must be released as public records.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenna |title=Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |website=HeraldNet |date=10 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911213648/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |archive-date=11 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Norfolk Circuit Court warrant requirement (2024-2025)===
In June 2024, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge granted a defendant's motion to suppress evidence obtained from the city's Flock ALPR system, ruling that, in that case, warrant-less access to the system implicated the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Katie |title=Norfolk judge rejects police Flock camera evidence without warrant |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |website=The Virginian-Pilot |date=15 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702005515/https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |archive-date=2 Jul 2024}}</ref>

That trial-court ruling was later reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals in ''Commonwealth v. Church'' in Oct 2025, which concluded the circuit court erred and held that the ALPR images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles in public and therefore did not require a search warrant; the appellate court reversed the suppression and remanded for further proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beales |first=Randolph A. |title=Commonwealth v. Ronnie D. Church, No. 0737-25-1 (Va. Ct. App. Oct. 2025) (unpublished opinion) |url=https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |website=Virginia Court System |date=14 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028232244/https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |archive-date=28 Oct 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://deflock.me/ DeFlock: ALPR Location Map]
*[https://www.noalprs.org/ No ALPRs: Advocacy Group]
*[https://www.eff.org/issues/license-plate-readers EFF: License Plate Readers]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20260415082121/https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/flock_1.pdf ACLU: Fast-Growing Company Flock is Building a New AI-Driven Mass-Surveillance System]
*[https://www.wired.com/tag/automated-license-plate-readers/ Wired: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.vice.com/en/topic/automated-license-plate-readers Vice: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.technologyreview.com/tag/surveillance/ MIT Technology Review: Surveillance]
*[https://www.flock-restrictions.org/ Flock Restrictions: Policy Tracking]
*[https://www.urban.org/features/how-police-use-technology Urban Institute: Police Technology Use]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Kerbal Space Program 2 still sold despite remaining unfinished

2026-05-27T02:08:23Z

Neige: Steam link

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Take Two, Private Division
|StartDate=2019
|EndDate=2025
|Status=Active
|Product=KSP2
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Product Termination, Abandonware
|Description=KSP2 turned into abandonware, still being sold and charging full price for the game that was never finished.
}}''[[wikipedia:Kerbal_Space_Program_2|'''Kerbal Space Program 2''']]'' is a game designed by Intercept Games and published by Private Division as a sequel to ''Kerbal Space Program''. It was released on [[Steam]] in early access on February 24, 2023. Currently, the game is still in early access and costs $49.99.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/954850/Kerbal_Space_Program_2/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118091424/https://store.steampowered.com/app/954850/Kerbal_Space_Program_2/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref> Steam lists no updates to the game since June 11, 2024.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/954850?updates=true |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam News Hub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825183807/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/954850?updates=true |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref>

==Background==
''Kerbal Space Program 2'' entered development in 2017 and was initially planned for release in 2020. Development issues pushed back the release of the early access version to February 24, 2023.

==Incident==
On April 29, 2024, [[Take Two|Take-Two]] Interactive Software, the owner of Private Division and Intercept Games, posted a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification to the Washington State Employment Security Department indicating that they planned to close their subsidiary Intercept Games, the developer of ''Kerbal Space Program 2'', on June 28, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) |url=https://esd.wa.gov/about-employees/WARN |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241103073147/https://esd.wa.gov/about-employees/warn |archive-date=3 Nov 2024|access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=ESDWAGOV}}</ref> Senior team manager Quinn Duffy confirmed on LinkedIn that the team would be laid off on that day, <ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Quinn |title=Post |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/quinn-duffy_well-here-we-go-again-the-team-at-intercept-activity-7201280703215394816-uyzd/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=LinkedIn |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240731205415/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/quinn-duffy_well-here-we-go-again-the-team-at-intercept-activity-7201280703215394816-uyzd/ |archive-date=31 Jul 2024}}</ref> although Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed otherwise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=16 May 2024 |title=Take-Two CEO on Intercept, Roll7: 'We Didn't Shutter Those Studios' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-on-intercept-roll7-we-didnt-shutter-those-studios |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=IGN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213052418/https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-on-intercept-roll7-we-didnt-shutter-those-studios |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> Take-Two later confirmed the sale of Private Division, ''Kerbal''<nowiki/>'s publisher, to an unknown buyer, preferring to focus on AAA titles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=6 Nov 2024 |title=Zelnick on Private Division sale: "Those projects were smaller, we're in the business of big hits" |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zelnick-on-private-division-sale-those-projects-were-smaller-were-in-the-business-of-big-hits |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219035055/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zelnick-on-private-division-sale-those-projects-were-smaller-were-in-the-business-of-big-hits |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

''Kerbal Space Program 2'' has not seen any updates since June 11, 2024 and remains in early access.<ref name=":1" />

==Consumer response==
''Kerbal Space Program'' fans and buyers left over 4,000 negative reviews on the sequel's Steam page within the three months following the announcement of Intercept Games' closure. At the same time, positive reviews diminished sharply, bringing the Steam page's all-time average to "Mostly Negative."<ref name=":0" />

One recent Steam review with over 500 "helpful" ratings reads:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minderbinder |first=Milo |date=26 Jul 2025 |title=Review for Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/thatissoawsome/recommended/954850/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415180019/https://steamcommunity.com/id/thatissoawsome/recommended/954850/ |archive-date=15 Apr 2026 |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam Community}}</ref><blockquote>Abandonware. This should at least be removed from the steam store and ideally all people who purchased the game should be refunded.

Do not buy. Get KSP1. Do not fund these practices.</blockquote>

==External Links==

*[https://steamcharts.com/cmp/954850,220200#All Steam Charts] play count of KSP2 versus the original showing KSP2's failure. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250404135610/https://steamcharts.com/cmp/954850%2C220200#All Archived] on 4 April 2025, retrieved 26 May 2026.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Kerbal Space Program 2 still sold despite remaining unfinished

2026-05-27T02:04:27Z

Neige: Steam Charts showing KSP2 failure.

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Take Two, Private Division
|StartDate=2019
|EndDate=2025
|Status=Active
|Product=KSP2
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Product Termination, Abandonware
|Description=KSP2 turned into abandonware, still being sold and charging full price for the game that was never finished.
}}''[[wikipedia:Kerbal_Space_Program_2|'''Kerbal Space Program 2''']]'' is a game designed by Intercept Games and published by Private Division as a sequel to ''Kerbal Space Program''. It was released on Steam in early access on February 24, 2023. Currently, the game is still in early access and costs $49.99.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/954850/Kerbal_Space_Program_2/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118091424/https://store.steampowered.com/app/954850/Kerbal_Space_Program_2/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref> Steam lists no updates to the game since June 11, 2024.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/954850?updates=true |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam News Hub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825183807/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/954850?updates=true |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref>

==Background==
''Kerbal Space Program 2'' entered development in 2017 and was initially planned for release in 2020. Development issues pushed back the release of the early access version to February 24, 2023.

==Incident==
On April 29, 2024, [[Take Two|Take-Two]] Interactive Software, the owner of Private Division and Intercept Games, posted a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification to the Washington State Employment Security Department indicating that they planned to close their subsidiary Intercept Games, the developer of ''Kerbal Space Program 2'', on June 28, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) |url=https://esd.wa.gov/about-employees/WARN |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241103073147/https://esd.wa.gov/about-employees/warn |archive-date=3 Nov 2024|access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=ESDWAGOV}}</ref> Senior team manager Quinn Duffy confirmed on LinkedIn that the team would be laid off on that day, <ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Quinn |title=Post |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/quinn-duffy_well-here-we-go-again-the-team-at-intercept-activity-7201280703215394816-uyzd/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=LinkedIn |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240731205415/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/quinn-duffy_well-here-we-go-again-the-team-at-intercept-activity-7201280703215394816-uyzd/ |archive-date=31 Jul 2024}}</ref> although Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed otherwise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=16 May 2024 |title=Take-Two CEO on Intercept, Roll7: 'We Didn't Shutter Those Studios' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-on-intercept-roll7-we-didnt-shutter-those-studios |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=IGN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213052418/https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-on-intercept-roll7-we-didnt-shutter-those-studios |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> Take-Two later confirmed the sale of Private Division, ''Kerbal''<nowiki/>'s publisher, to an unknown buyer, preferring to focus on AAA titles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=6 Nov 2024 |title=Zelnick on Private Division sale: "Those projects were smaller, we're in the business of big hits" |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zelnick-on-private-division-sale-those-projects-were-smaller-were-in-the-business-of-big-hits |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219035055/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zelnick-on-private-division-sale-those-projects-were-smaller-were-in-the-business-of-big-hits |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

''Kerbal Space Program 2'' has not seen any updates since June 11, 2024 and remains in early access.<ref name=":1" />

==Consumer response==
''Kerbal Space Program'' fans and buyers left over 4,000 negative reviews on the sequel's Steam page within the three months following the announcement of Intercept Games' closure. At the same time, positive reviews diminished sharply, bringing the Steam page's all-time average to "Mostly Negative."<ref name=":0" />

One recent Steam review with over 500 "helpful" ratings reads:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minderbinder |first=Milo |date=26 Jul 2025 |title=Review for Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/thatissoawsome/recommended/954850/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415180019/https://steamcommunity.com/id/thatissoawsome/recommended/954850/ |archive-date=15 Apr 2026 |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam Community}}</ref><blockquote>Abandonware. This should at least be removed from the steam store and ideally all people who purchased the game should be refunded.

Do not buy. Get KSP1. Do not fund these practices.</blockquote>

== External Links ==

* [https://steamcharts.com/cmp/954850,220200#All Steam Charts] play count of KSP2 versus the original showing KSP2's failure. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250404135610/https://steamcharts.com/cmp/954850%2C220200#All Archived] on 4 April 2025, retrieved 26 May 2026.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

PlayOn Desktop discontinued

2026-05-09T00:22:53Z

Neige: Archived some links

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=MediaMall
|StartDate=2021-10-07
|EndDate=2021-11-24
|Status=Resolved
|ProductLine=
|Product=PlayOn Desktop
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Broken Promise,License revocation,Rent-seeking
|Description=MediaMall sold PlayOn Desktop "Lifetime License" at $69.99, then ended updates in October 2021 and pushed lifetime holders to a subscription
}}

'''[[wikipedia:PlayOn#PlayOn_Desktop|PlayOn Desktop]] discontinued''' refers to MediaMall Technologies, Inc.'s October 2021 decision to end development of its PlayOn Desktop streaming DVR software, which had been sold with a $69.99 one-time "Lifetime License," and to direct existing customers toward a new subscription product, PlayOn Home, priced at $5 per month or $40 per year.<ref name="techhive">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=2021-10-21 |title=PlayOn strands lifetime subscribers as it overhauls its desktop DVR software |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/579775/playon-streaming-dvr-just-got-a-lot-pricier.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260328101637/https://www.techhive.com/article/579775/playon-streaming-dvr-just-got-a-lot-pricier.html |archive-date=28 March 2026 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=TechHive}}</ref><ref name="upgrade-archive">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=PlayOn Upgrade Page |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126210706/https://www.playon.tv/upgrade |website=PlayOn (archived by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine) |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> PlayOn Desktop received its final software update on October 7, 2021, and was no longer available to purchase as of that date.<ref name="techhive" /> Lifetime customers were offered a minimum of three months of free PlayOn Home as compensation, with longer offers for more recent buyers.<ref name="welcome-home">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Welcome to PlayOn Home |url=https://www.playon.tv/blog/welcome-playon-home |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207002651/https://www.playon.tv/blog/welcome-playon-home |archive-date=7 Dec 2025 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=The PlayOn Blog}}</ref>

==Background==

PlayOn Desktop was a Windows application developed by MediaMall Technologies, Inc. The program loaded streaming videos in a hidden web browser and silently recorded them to the user's hard drive, producing standard MP4 files. TechHive's Jared Newman, in coverage of the discontinuation, noted that PlayOn had existed in some form for thirteen years as of October 2021 and described the desktop product as "an invaluable tool" for cord-cutters who wanted to retain access to programming after streaming subscriptions lapsed or shows moved between services.<ref name="techhive" />

The PlayOn Desktop End User License Agreement, which governed all sales of the software, was a contract between the user and "MediaMall Technologies, Inc." Section 4 of the EULA reads:
<blockquote>''MediaMall reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service, or any part thereof, at any time and without notice to you, and MediaMall will not be liable to you should it exercise such rights, even if your use of PlayOn or PlayLater Content is impacted by the change.''</blockquote><ref name="eula">{{Cite web |title=PlayOn End User License Agreement |url=https://www.playon.tv/eula |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260315134901/https://www.playon.tv/eula |archive-date=15 Mar 2026 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=PlayOn}}</ref>
Section 5 of the EULA limited MediaMall's warranty to thirty days from the date of receipt, stating:
<blockquote>''There is no warranty or condition of any kind with respect to any defects discovered after the thirty-day limited warranty period.''</blockquote><ref name="eula" />
Disputes were governed by the laws of New York and assigned to the state and federal courts of New York; the EULA contained no arbitration clause and no class action waiver.<ref name="eula" />

At the time of the discontinuation, PlayOn was sold under three plans on the official upgrade page. A Wayback Machine snapshot taken on January 26, 2021, captures the offer: a Lifetime License at $69.99 as a one-time payment, a monthly plan at $4.99, and an annual plan at $19.99.<ref name="upgrade-archive" /> The same snapshot shows a promotional banner reading "NOW 50% OFF DESKTOP LIFETIME" and "SAVE $40 NOW," indicating the lifetime tier was actively marketed to consumers in the months before development ended.<ref name="upgrade-archive" /> A separate product, PlayOn Cloud, recorded videos through MediaMall's own servers on a per-recording credit basis and was governed by a distinct Terms of Service.<ref name="techhive" /><ref name="cloud-tos">{{Cite web |title=PlayOn Cloud Terms of Service |url=https://www.playon.tv/cloud-tos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260323025538/https://www.playon.tv/cloud-tos |archive-date=23 Mar 2026 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=PlayOn}}</ref>

==October 2021 product termination==

PlayOn Desktop received its final update on October 7, 2021, and was withdrawn from sale that same day.<ref name="techhive" /> In its place, MediaMall released PlayOn Home, a Windows program described by TechHive as "functionally similar to the old Desktop software" but available only on a $5 per month or $40 per year subscription.<ref name="techhive" /> The annual price represented an increase from the $19.99 annual plan that had been advertised on PlayOn's upgrade page earlier in 2021.<ref name="upgrade-archive" /><ref name="techhive" />

The same week as the final desktop update, a PlayOn representative posting under the name Skip Sullivan from a @playon.tv email address explained the change in an announcement on the official PlayOn subreddit, which was then reposted by a forum participant to the SageTV community thread "PlayOn Desktop is Dead" (the SageTV mirror is the publicly archived copy). Sullivan wrote:
<blockquote>''Those of you with lifetime PlayOn Desktop licenses are eligible for at least 3 free months of PlayOn Home. Should you find it not for you, you can continue to use PlayOn Desktop on Windows 10 and Window 8.1 PCs, but it will likely become less stable over time. While we won't be releasing updates for PlayOn Desktop we will still provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance.''</blockquote><ref name="sagetv">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-22 |title=PlayOn Desktop is Dead (thread reposting Skip Sullivan's PlayOn subreddit announcement) |url=https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread_t_66812.html?t=66812 |website=SageTV Community Forum |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref>

Sullivan's announcement identified the technical reason MediaMall gave for the change:
<blockquote>''Windows 11 integrates the new chromium-based Edge browser very differently than Windows 10, which changes the way PlayOn does it's hidden browser/capture process. The Edge stuff in Windows 11 was still in flux/development in the Windows 11 betas.''</blockquote><ref name="sagetv" />
TechHive reported a parallel email statement from MediaMall's Chief Operating Officer, Tracy Burman, who said via email that Windows 11 introduces a major change in how it integrates Microsoft's Edge browser, which in turn forced the company to revamp its entire capturing process.<ref name="techhive" /> Burman further told TechHive in an email statement:
<blockquote>''it was not possible to develop and maintain this new and improved version of PlayOn without some continued investment from our customers.''</blockquote><ref name="techhive" />

The transition was formalized in a November 24, 2021 post on the official PlayOn Blog titled "Welcome to PlayOn Home." The post, attributed to "Tracy's Blog," announced PlayOn Home as "our new PC-based Streaming DVR" and stated that monthly and annual Desktop subscribers would be migrated automatically.<ref name="welcome-home" /> TechHive's Jared Newman, writing in the same period, observed that "the old PlayOn desktop software will eventually become worthless as its recording capabilities degrade," because PlayOn's recording mechanism depended on continued maintenance against changes in streaming-service websites.<ref name="techhive" />

==MediaMall's response to lifetime customers==

MediaMall did not refund lifetime license holders. Instead, the November 24, 2021 PlayOn Blog post offered them migration credit toward the new subscription product:
<blockquote>''Existing PlayOn Desktop users with monthly and annual plans will be automatically migrated over to PlayOn Home. Users who purchased a Lifetime license to Desktop will receive a minimum of 3 months of PlayOn Home for free, and folks who purchased more recently will get even more free time on PlayOn Home. Users can see what their special PlayOn Home offer is by logging into their account.''</blockquote><ref name="welcome-home" />
After those free months, lifetime holders who wished to continue using a maintained product would have to pay $5 monthly or $40 annually.<ref name="techhive" />

MediaMall relied on the EULA's reservation clause, which had granted the company the right to discontinue the software "at any time and without notice" without liability to the user, and the thirty-day limited warranty that disclaimed responsibility for any later defects.<ref name="eula" /> Sullivan framed the company's position in the same announcement as a resource constraint:
<blockquote>''This decision was not made lightly. PlayOn is a small company and with limited development resources and this was and is about carving out a path forward that allows us to continue cover the cost of development and to provide software and service that meet needs of our users.''</blockquote><ref name="sagetv" />
Sullivan also stated that purchasing PlayOn Home was not a forfeiture of the existing lifetime license and that the desktop software would continue to install and run on Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 systems, though without further updates.<ref name="sagetv" />

==Consumer response==

TechHive reported on the consumer reaction:
<blockquote>''The news has not gone over well on PlayOn's Reddit page, where an announcement post now has hundreds of mostly angry comments.''</blockquote><ref name="techhive" />
The SageTV community forum thread "PlayOn Desktop is Dead," which mirrored Sullivan's PlayOn subreddit announcement, drew posts from forum participants questioning a one-time payment marketed as "lifetime" being terminated by a unilateral software-development decision.<ref name="sagetv" /> Jared Newman concluded the TechHive piece with a broader observation:
<blockquote>''we should all be a little more wary of "lifetime" subscriptions from companies whose costs are ongoing; sooner or later, the bill always comes due.''</blockquote><ref name="techhive" />

As of May 2026, no class action lawsuit against MediaMall Technologies regarding the PlayOn Desktop discontinuation has been documented in published reporting on the dispute, and no consumer-protection investigation has been announced.

==Legal context==

The closest reported precedent on the "lifetime of the device" defense in a software context is ''McVetty v. TomTom North America Inc.'', No. 7:19-cv-04908 (S.D.N.Y.), in which a plaintiff brought New York General Business Law claims against TomTom over GPS devices marketed with "Lifetime Maps and Traffic" that the company later discontinued. TomTom argued that "lifetime" referred to the useful life of the device, not the life of the purchaser. A federal court dismissed the action in July 2022 on the ground that McVetty's amended complaint did not provide context for the label he relied on after purchasing the device, with the court finding that the amended complaint put forth insufficient details about any alleged deception.<ref name="mcvetty">{{Cite web |last=Dennehy |first=Kevin |date=2022-07-21 |title=TomTom Successfully Defends Proposed Class Action, Reports 2nd Quarter Loss |url=https://locationbusinessnews.com/tomtom-successfully-defends-proposed-class-action-reports-2nd-quarter-loss |website=Location Business News |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref><ref name="mcvetty-filing">{{Cite web |last=Rizzi |first=Corrado |date=2019-05-28 |title=TomTom Hit with Class Action Over Allegedly 'Illusory' Lifetime Maps and Traffic Support |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/tomtom-hit-with-class-action-over-allegedly-illusory-lifetime-maps-and-traffic-support |website=ClassAction.org |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> PlayOn's EULA assigns disputes to the state and federal courts of New York,<ref name="eula" /> placing any consumer claim against MediaMall over the lifetime license in the same forum that decided ''McVetty''.

The leading counter-example involves hardware rather than software. In ''Alvarez v. Sirius XM Radio Inc.'', No. 2:18-cv-08605-JVS-SS (C.D. Cal.), Sirius XM agreed to a settlement valued at approximately $96 million on claims that "Lifetime Subscription" plans had been tied to specific radio devices, with the carrier interpreting "lifetime" as the working life of the hardware. Final approval was granted on February 9, 2021.<ref name="alvarez">{{Cite web |title=SiriusXM Lifetime Subscription Class Action Settlement |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/siriusxm-lifetime-subscription-class-action-settlement/ |website=Top Class Actions |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref>

California has since enacted statutory disclosure rules for digital-goods purchases. Assembly Bill 2426, codified at California Business and Professions Code section 17500.6, prohibits the use of words such as "buy" or "purchase" in connection with digital goods unless the consumer either receives a permanent download or provides "affirmative acknowledgment" that what is being sold is a license rather than ownership.<ref name="ab2426">{{Cite web |title=AB-2426 Consumer protection: false advertising: digital goods. |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426 |website=California Legislative Information |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> The statute took effect on January 1, 2025.<ref name="sidley-ab2426">{{Cite web |date=2024-11 |title=California's New Digital Goods Law AB 2426: What You Need to Know |url=https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2024/11/californias-new-digital-goods-law-ab-2426-what-you-need-to-know |website=Sidley Austin LLP |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> The PlayOn Desktop transition predates AB 2426 by three years.

The procedural posture of any future PlayOn Desktop dispute is shaped by an asymmetry between MediaMall's two governing agreements. The PlayOn Desktop EULA selects New York state and federal courts and contains no arbitration clause and no class action waiver.<ref name="eula" /> The PlayOn Cloud Terms of Service, by contrast, require final and binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and prohibit class, consolidated, or representative actions. The Cloud ToS class-action waiver reads:
<blockquote>''You may only resolve Disputes with MMT on an individual basis, and may not bring a claim as a plaintiff or a class member in a class, consolidated, or representative action. Class arbitrations, class actions, private attorney general actions, and consolidation with other arbitrations are prohibited under our agreement.''</blockquote><ref name="cloud-tos" />
Lifetime Desktop license holders therefore retain, in theory, access to a New York class proceeding that PlayOn Cloud customers do not.<ref name="eula" /><ref name="cloud-tos" />

==See also==

*[[VitalSource "Lifetime" false advertising]]
*[[TeamViewer terminates perpetual licenses]]
*[[Ngenic forces subscription on previously “lifetime” Tune customers]]
*[[Bandicam perpetual license invalidation]]
*[[List of products and services with post-purchase license change]]
*[[MediaMall]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:2021 incidents]]
[[Category:Lifetime license removal]]
[[Category:Rent-seeking]]

PlayOn Desktop discontinued

2026-05-09T00:17:36Z

Neige:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=MediaMall
|StartDate=2021-10-07
|EndDate=2021-11-24
|Status=Resolved
|ProductLine=
|Product=PlayOn Desktop
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Broken Promise,License revocation,Rent-seeking
|Description=MediaMall sold PlayOn Desktop "Lifetime License" at $69.99, then ended updates in October 2021 and pushed lifetime holders to a subscription
}}

'''[[wikipedia:PlayOn#PlayOn_Desktop|PlayOn Desktop]] discontinued''' refers to MediaMall Technologies, Inc.'s October 2021 decision to end development of its PlayOn Desktop streaming DVR software, which had been sold with a $69.99 one-time "Lifetime License," and to direct existing customers toward a new subscription product, PlayOn Home, priced at $5 per month or $40 per year.<ref name="techhive">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=2021-10-21 |title=PlayOn strands lifetime subscribers as it overhauls its desktop DVR software |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/579775/playon-streaming-dvr-just-got-a-lot-pricier.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260328101637/https://www.techhive.com/article/579775/playon-streaming-dvr-just-got-a-lot-pricier.html |archive-date=28 March 2026 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=TechHive}}</ref><ref name="upgrade-archive">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=PlayOn Upgrade Page |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126210706/https://www.playon.tv/upgrade |website=PlayOn (archived by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine) |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> PlayOn Desktop received its final software update on October 7, 2021, and was no longer available to purchase as of that date.<ref name="techhive" /> Lifetime customers were offered a minimum of three months of free PlayOn Home as compensation, with longer offers for more recent buyers.<ref name="welcome-home">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Welcome to PlayOn Home |url=https://www.playon.tv/blog/welcome-playon-home |website=The PlayOn Blog |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref>

==Background==

PlayOn Desktop was a Windows application developed by MediaMall Technologies, Inc. The program loaded streaming videos in a hidden web browser and silently recorded them to the user's hard drive, producing standard MP4 files. TechHive's Jared Newman, in coverage of the discontinuation, noted that PlayOn had existed in some form for thirteen years as of October 2021 and described the desktop product as "an invaluable tool" for cord-cutters who wanted to retain access to programming after streaming subscriptions lapsed or shows moved between services.<ref name="techhive" />

The PlayOn Desktop End User License Agreement, which governed all sales of the software, was a contract between the user and "MediaMall Technologies, Inc." Section 4 of the EULA reads:
<blockquote>''MediaMall reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service, or any part thereof, at any time and without notice to you, and MediaMall will not be liable to you should it exercise such rights, even if your use of PlayOn or PlayLater Content is impacted by the change.''</blockquote><ref name="eula">{{Cite web |title=PlayOn End User License Agreement |url=https://www.playon.tv/eula |website=PlayOn |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref>
Section 5 of the EULA limited MediaMall's warranty to thirty days from the date of receipt, stating:
<blockquote>''There is no warranty or condition of any kind with respect to any defects discovered after the thirty-day limited warranty period.''</blockquote><ref name="eula" />
Disputes were governed by the laws of New York and assigned to the state and federal courts of New York; the EULA contained no arbitration clause and no class action waiver.<ref name="eula" />

At the time of the discontinuation, PlayOn was sold under three plans on the official upgrade page. A Wayback Machine snapshot taken on January 26, 2021, captures the offer: a Lifetime License at $69.99 as a one-time payment, a monthly plan at $4.99, and an annual plan at $19.99.<ref name="upgrade-archive" /> The same snapshot shows a promotional banner reading "NOW 50% OFF DESKTOP LIFETIME" and "SAVE $40 NOW," indicating the lifetime tier was actively marketed to consumers in the months before development ended.<ref name="upgrade-archive" /> A separate product, PlayOn Cloud, recorded videos through MediaMall's own servers on a per-recording credit basis and was governed by a distinct Terms of Service.<ref name="techhive" /><ref name="cloud-tos">{{Cite web |title=PlayOn Cloud Terms of Service |url=https://www.playon.tv/cloud-tos |website=PlayOn |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref>

==October 2021 product termination==

PlayOn Desktop received its final update on October 7, 2021, and was withdrawn from sale that same day.<ref name="techhive" /> In its place, MediaMall released PlayOn Home, a Windows program described by TechHive as "functionally similar to the old Desktop software" but available only on a $5 per month or $40 per year subscription.<ref name="techhive" /> The annual price represented an increase from the $19.99 annual plan that had been advertised on PlayOn's upgrade page earlier in 2021.<ref name="upgrade-archive" /><ref name="techhive" />

The same week as the final desktop update, a PlayOn representative posting under the name Skip Sullivan from a @playon.tv email address explained the change in an announcement on the official PlayOn subreddit, which was then reposted by a forum participant to the SageTV community thread "PlayOn Desktop is Dead" (the SageTV mirror is the publicly archived copy). Sullivan wrote:
<blockquote>''Those of you with lifetime PlayOn Desktop licenses are eligible for at least 3 free months of PlayOn Home. Should you find it not for you, you can continue to use PlayOn Desktop on Windows 10 and Window 8.1 PCs, but it will likely become less stable over time. While we won't be releasing updates for PlayOn Desktop we will still provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance.''</blockquote><ref name="sagetv">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-22 |title=PlayOn Desktop is Dead (thread reposting Skip Sullivan's PlayOn subreddit announcement) |url=https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread_t_66812.html?t=66812 |website=SageTV Community Forum |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref>

Sullivan's announcement identified the technical reason MediaMall gave for the change:
<blockquote>''Windows 11 integrates the new chromium-based Edge browser very differently than Windows 10, which changes the way PlayOn does it's hidden browser/capture process. The Edge stuff in Windows 11 was still in flux/development in the Windows 11 betas.''</blockquote><ref name="sagetv" />
TechHive reported a parallel email statement from MediaMall's Chief Operating Officer, Tracy Burman, who said via email that Windows 11 introduces a major change in how it integrates Microsoft's Edge browser, which in turn forced the company to revamp its entire capturing process.<ref name="techhive" /> Burman further told TechHive in an email statement:
<blockquote>''it was not possible to develop and maintain this new and improved version of PlayOn without some continued investment from our customers.''</blockquote><ref name="techhive" />

The transition was formalized in a November 24, 2021 post on the official PlayOn Blog titled "Welcome to PlayOn Home." The post, attributed to "Tracy's Blog," announced PlayOn Home as "our new PC-based Streaming DVR" and stated that monthly and annual Desktop subscribers would be migrated automatically.<ref name="welcome-home" /> TechHive's Jared Newman, writing in the same period, observed that "the old PlayOn desktop software will eventually become worthless as its recording capabilities degrade," because PlayOn's recording mechanism depended on continued maintenance against changes in streaming-service websites.<ref name="techhive" />

==MediaMall's response to lifetime customers==

MediaMall did not refund lifetime license holders. Instead, the November 24, 2021 PlayOn Blog post offered them migration credit toward the new subscription product:
<blockquote>''Existing PlayOn Desktop users with monthly and annual plans will be automatically migrated over to PlayOn Home. Users who purchased a Lifetime license to Desktop will receive a minimum of 3 months of PlayOn Home for free, and folks who purchased more recently will get even more free time on PlayOn Home. Users can see what their special PlayOn Home offer is by logging into their account.''</blockquote><ref name="welcome-home" />
After those free months, lifetime holders who wished to continue using a maintained product would have to pay $5 monthly or $40 annually.<ref name="techhive" />

MediaMall relied on the EULA's reservation clause, which had granted the company the right to discontinue the software "at any time and without notice" without liability to the user, and the thirty-day limited warranty that disclaimed responsibility for any later defects.<ref name="eula" /> Sullivan framed the company's position in the same announcement as a resource constraint:
<blockquote>''This decision was not made lightly. PlayOn is a small company and with limited development resources and this was and is about carving out a path forward that allows us to continue cover the cost of development and to provide software and service that meet needs of our users.''</blockquote><ref name="sagetv" />
Sullivan also stated that purchasing PlayOn Home was not a forfeiture of the existing lifetime license and that the desktop software would continue to install and run on Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 systems, though without further updates.<ref name="sagetv" />

==Consumer response==

TechHive reported on the consumer reaction:
<blockquote>''The news has not gone over well on PlayOn's Reddit page, where an announcement post now has hundreds of mostly angry comments.''</blockquote><ref name="techhive" />
The SageTV community forum thread "PlayOn Desktop is Dead," which mirrored Sullivan's PlayOn subreddit announcement, drew posts from forum participants questioning a one-time payment marketed as "lifetime" being terminated by a unilateral software-development decision.<ref name="sagetv" /> Jared Newman concluded the TechHive piece with a broader observation:
<blockquote>''we should all be a little more wary of "lifetime" subscriptions from companies whose costs are ongoing; sooner or later, the bill always comes due.''</blockquote><ref name="techhive" />

As of May 2026, no class action lawsuit against MediaMall Technologies regarding the PlayOn Desktop discontinuation has been documented in published reporting on the dispute, and no consumer-protection investigation has been announced.

==Legal context==

The closest reported precedent on the "lifetime of the device" defense in a software context is ''McVetty v. TomTom North America Inc.'', No. 7:19-cv-04908 (S.D.N.Y.), in which a plaintiff brought New York General Business Law claims against TomTom over GPS devices marketed with "Lifetime Maps and Traffic" that the company later discontinued. TomTom argued that "lifetime" referred to the useful life of the device, not the life of the purchaser. A federal court dismissed the action in July 2022 on the ground that McVetty's amended complaint did not provide context for the label he relied on after purchasing the device, with the court finding that the amended complaint put forth insufficient details about any alleged deception.<ref name="mcvetty">{{Cite web |last=Dennehy |first=Kevin |date=2022-07-21 |title=TomTom Successfully Defends Proposed Class Action, Reports 2nd Quarter Loss |url=https://locationbusinessnews.com/tomtom-successfully-defends-proposed-class-action-reports-2nd-quarter-loss |website=Location Business News |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref><ref name="mcvetty-filing">{{Cite web |last=Rizzi |first=Corrado |date=2019-05-28 |title=TomTom Hit with Class Action Over Allegedly 'Illusory' Lifetime Maps and Traffic Support |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/tomtom-hit-with-class-action-over-allegedly-illusory-lifetime-maps-and-traffic-support |website=ClassAction.org |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> PlayOn's EULA assigns disputes to the state and federal courts of New York,<ref name="eula" /> placing any consumer claim against MediaMall over the lifetime license in the same forum that decided ''McVetty''.

The leading counter-example involves hardware rather than software. In ''Alvarez v. Sirius XM Radio Inc.'', No. 2:18-cv-08605-JVS-SS (C.D. Cal.), Sirius XM agreed to a settlement valued at approximately $96 million on claims that "Lifetime Subscription" plans had been tied to specific radio devices, with the carrier interpreting "lifetime" as the working life of the hardware. Final approval was granted on February 9, 2021.<ref name="alvarez">{{Cite web |title=SiriusXM Lifetime Subscription Class Action Settlement |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/siriusxm-lifetime-subscription-class-action-settlement/ |website=Top Class Actions |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref>

California has since enacted statutory disclosure rules for digital-goods purchases. Assembly Bill 2426, codified at California Business and Professions Code section 17500.6, prohibits the use of words such as "buy" or "purchase" in connection with digital goods unless the consumer either receives a permanent download or provides "affirmative acknowledgment" that what is being sold is a license rather than ownership.<ref name="ab2426">{{Cite web |title=AB-2426 Consumer protection: false advertising: digital goods. |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426 |website=California Legislative Information |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> The statute took effect on January 1, 2025.<ref name="sidley-ab2426">{{Cite web |date=2024-11 |title=California's New Digital Goods Law AB 2426: What You Need to Know |url=https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2024/11/californias-new-digital-goods-law-ab-2426-what-you-need-to-know |website=Sidley Austin LLP |access-date=2026-05-08}}</ref> The PlayOn Desktop transition predates AB 2426 by three years.

The procedural posture of any future PlayOn Desktop dispute is shaped by an asymmetry between MediaMall's two governing agreements. The PlayOn Desktop EULA selects New York state and federal courts and contains no arbitration clause and no class action waiver.<ref name="eula" /> The PlayOn Cloud Terms of Service, by contrast, require final and binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and prohibit class, consolidated, or representative actions. The Cloud ToS class-action waiver reads:
<blockquote>''You may only resolve Disputes with MMT on an individual basis, and may not bring a claim as a plaintiff or a class member in a class, consolidated, or representative action. Class arbitrations, class actions, private attorney general actions, and consolidation with other arbitrations are prohibited under our agreement.''</blockquote><ref name="cloud-tos" />
Lifetime Desktop license holders therefore retain, in theory, access to a New York class proceeding that PlayOn Cloud customers do not.<ref name="eula" /><ref name="cloud-tos" />

==See also==

*[[VitalSource "Lifetime" false advertising]]
*[[TeamViewer terminates perpetual licenses]]
*[[Ngenic forces subscription on previously “lifetime” Tune customers]]
*[[Bandicam perpetual license invalidation]]
*[[List of products and services with post-purchase license change]]
*[[MediaMall]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:2021 incidents]]
[[Category:Lifetime license removal]]
[[Category:Rent-seeking]]

Flock Safety

2026-05-06T20:22:11Z

Neige: Switched unusable Wayback Machine link to archive.today.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2017
|Industry=Surveillance Technology
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.flocksafety.com,
|Description=Flock Safety is an American surveillance technology company that develops and operates a mass surveillance system combining automated license plate readers (LPRs), video surveillance cameras, gunshot detection, drones, and data analytics platforms used by thousands of law enforcement agencies and private entities across the United States.
|Logo=Flock Safety Logo (2025).svg
}}

'''{{Wplink|Flock Safety}}''' is a technology company that creates and operates an extensive surveillance network using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and related technologies.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=23 Oct 2025 |title=Highlights from Denver's Flock camera town hall – Mayor didn't show up |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Flock was founded in 2017 by Georgia Tech alumni Garrett Langley (CEO), Matt Feury (CTO), and Paige Todd (CPO), beginning as a side project where they built their first surveillance cameras by hand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edmonson |first=Crystal |date=22 Aug 2023 |title=Flock Safety cameras help police amid worker shortage, CEO Garrett Langley says |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/08/22/flock-safety-ceo-garrett-langley-podcast.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}</ref> The company operates on a "surveillance as a service" business model, owning and maintaining camera infrastructure while charging recurring fees to law enforcement agencies, private communities, and businesses for access to its surveillance data and network.<ref name="FlockFunding">{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2025 |title=Accelerating Innovation: Flock Secures $275 Million to Advance Crime-Solving Technology |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-secures-major-funding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/64KcV |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

As of mid-2025, independent reporting and public records indicate the Flock network comprised more than 80,000 AI-enabled cameras nationwide.<ref name="Koebler2025">{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media |date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=29 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Flock's materials state deployments in roughly 5,000 communities, and the company reports the system processes "over 20 billion" vehicle scans per month; these latter two figures are company-provided and should be read as Flock's claims rather than independently verified totals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2025 |title=City Leaders Choose Flock Safety: A Proven, Community-Focused Public Safety Solution |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/city-leaders-choose-flock-safety-a-proven-community-focused-public-safety-solution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mQzuY |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Real-Time Vehicle Leads, Nationwide |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/national-lpr-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mJ8nZ |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date= |title=FlockOS |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-os |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LrSjc |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

The company reported surpassing roughly $300 million in annual recurring revenue. In March 2025, it closed a $275 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, which independent reporting estimated valued the company at about $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hu |first=Krystal |title=US startup Flock Safety raises $275 million to fund manufacturing plant, R&D |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-startup-flock-safety-raises-275-million-fund-manufacturing-plant-rd-2025-03-13/ |website=Reuters |date=13 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/JaV0t |archive-date=13 Mar 2025}}</ref> As of 2025, the company has raised a total of $957.5 million in funding.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=MacBride |first=Elizabeth |title=Flock Safety: 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |website=CNBC |date=10 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612102045/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |archive-date=12 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
===Privacy===
Critics, including civil liberties organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that Flock's mass surveillance network violates privacy rights and represents a form of constant public monitoring that differs fundamentally from traditional, fleeting police observation.<ref name="ACLUStanley">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock's Aggressive Expansions Go Far Beyond Simple Driver Surveillance |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=18 Aug 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819025249/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |archive-date=19 Aug 2025}}</ref> A lawsuit filed in 2024 challenges the constitutionality of warrant-less searches of ALPR databases; courts have split on the issue in different jurisdictions, and rulings continue to be appealed. For example, a federal complaint in ''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (E.D. Va.) alleges repeated location logging by ALPRs, while appellate activity in related Virginia cases continued into 2025. Readers should consult the cited court documents and reporting for further developments.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Collier |first=Kevin |title=Police cameras tracked one driver 526 times in four months, lawsuit says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |website=NBC News |date=18 Sep 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918133508/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=14 Oct 2025 |title=Flock Applauds Virginia Court of Appeals Ruling Affirming Constitutionality of LPR Cameras |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-applauds-virginia-court-of-appeals-ruling-affirming-constitutionality-of-lpr-cameras |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/JbcMV |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The system does not offer a public opt-out mechanism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement |url=https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |website=University of Washington Center for Human Rights
|date=21 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251113234912/https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> This raised concerns about the potential for misuse, profiling, and long-term monitoring of individuals and their associations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Sarah |last2=Alajaji |first2=Rindala |title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=27 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628052030/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |archive-date=28 Jun 2025}}</ref>

Specific privacy violations include:
*Warrant-less tracking and data sharing: Flock's business model enables a nationwide data-sharing network that allows thousands of law enforcement agencies to access location data without warrants or reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.<ref name="ACLUStanley" />

*Expanded audio surveillance: In 2025, Flock announced that its Raven gunshot detection systems would begin listening for "human distress" sounds, such as screaming, expanding beyond gunshot detection to voice monitoring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guariglia |first=Matthew |title=Flock's Gunshot Detection Microphones Will Start Listening for Human Voices
|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=2 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251029213640/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |archive-date=29 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Undermining state shield laws: Despite state laws protecting healthcare access, out-of-state officers from jurisdictions that criminalize abortion or gender-affirming care can access Flock data on residents of protective states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maass |first=Dave |title=Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007134746/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Immigration enforcement: Research from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights documented systematic access to Flock data by federal immigration authorities, often in violation of state laws.<ref name=":0" /> This occurred through three methods: "front door" access, where agencies directly shared data with Border Patrol; "back door" access via a default "National Lookup" setting that granted federal access without explicit local authorization; and "side door" searches where local officers ran searches on behalf of ICE.<ref name=":0" />

*Contractual privacy overreach: The ACLU of Massachusetts found that Flock's default service agreement grants the company a "worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free" license to disclose agency data for "investigative purposes," even if a local police department has chosen to restrict data-sharing with other agencies.<ref name="ACLUStanley2">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock Can Share Driver-Surveillance Data Even When Police Departments Opt Out, And Other Flock Developments |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024234020/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Business model===
Flock Safety operates on a subscription-based "safety-as-a-service" model.<ref name="Sacra">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety revenue, growth rate & funding |url=https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |website=Sacra |url-access=limited |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251123150450/https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |archive-date=23 Nov 2025}}</ref> The company charges approximately $2,500 per camera annually, plus a one-time installation fee.<ref name="Sacra" /> This subscription includes maintenance, software updates, and data hosting. Forbes reported in 2025 that a single license plate reader camera costs between $3,000 and $3,500, with additional fees for the FlockOS platform.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=AI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In America |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |website=Forbes |date=3 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903144312/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref> This model has proven highly successful, with the company reporting over $300 million in annual recurring revenue as of 2024, reflecting a 70% year-over-year increase.<ref name="FlockFunding" />

Flock's AI-enabled cameras capture detailed vehicle "[[Device fingerprint|fingerprints]]" — including make, model, color, bumper stickers, damages, and other distinguishing characteristics — in addition to license plates,<ref name=":4" /> with footage retained for thirty days before deletion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Mar 2019 |title=How Flock Safety Eliminates Neighborhood Crime While Protecting Resident Privacy |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/how-flock-safety-protects-resident-privacy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tRLU8 |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The company's network benefits from strong network effects. Investor Andreessen Horowitz has stated the system's power grows with adoption, as "digital evidence can be pooled across different law enforcement agencies," creating network effects that increase surveillance capabilities as more agencies join.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulevitch
|first=David |last2=George |first2=David |title=Investing in Flock Safety |url=https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |website=Andreessen Horowitz |date=13 Jul 2021 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928171419/https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |archive-date=28 Sep 2023}}</ref> As cameras are deployed across more jurisdictions, participating agencies gain access to a broader shared data pool.

Flock initially focused on homeowner's associations — which still account for roughly 40% of its business — before expanding rapidly into law enforcement and enterprise sectors, illustrating a "land-and-expand" growth strategy.<ref name="Sacra" /> Major venture capital firms have invested heavily, signaling strong market confidence. In March 2025, a funding round of $275 million was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Green Oaks Capital, Bedrock Capital, and Tiger Global, among others, valuing the company at $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pavri |first=Rezwan D. |last2=Conklin |first2=Colin G. |title=Wilson Sonsini Advises Flock Safety on $275 Million Financing |url=https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |website=Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati |date=14 Mar 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315234904/https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |archive-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> Major corporate clients include retailers like {{Wplink|Lowe's}} and {{Wplink|FedEx}}, mall operator {{Wplink|Simon Property Group}}, and healthcare provider {{Wplink|Kaiser Permanente}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=America's Biggest Mall Owner Is Sharing AI Surveillance Feeds Directly With Cops |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |website=Forbes |date=6 May 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203012902/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=FedEx's Secretive Police Force Is Helping Cops Build An AI Car Surveillance Network |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |website=Forbes |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128023325/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Strategic acquisitions and infrastructure investment fuel the company's expansion. Following its acquisition of Aerodome in October 2024, Flock Safety is building a 100,000-square-foot U.S.A. manufacturing facility for drone production.<ref name=":1" />

==Surveillance technology==
{{Main|Flock license plate readers}}

Flock Safety offers an integrated ecosystem of surveillance hardware and software marketed as a public safety platform.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Product Hub |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products |website=Flock Safety |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221459/https://www.flocksafety.com/products |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The hardware component includes solar-powered ALPRs;<ref name=":2" /> video cameras with AI-powered analytics for people and vehicle detection;<ref name=":2" /> acoustic sensors that identify gunshots and breaking glass for real-time alerts;<ref name=":2" /> and drones acquired through Aerodome for "drone as first responder" systems automatically dispatched to emergency calls.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Oct 2024 |title=Flock Expands Into Drones |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/N0naM |archive-date=28 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

Specific product models include the Falcon and Sparrow license plate readers, as well as the Raven gunshot detection system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz-Lecabe |first=Mike |title=Dissection of Flock Safety Camera |url=https://www.chrp.org/blog/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera |website=The Center for Human Rights and Privacy |date=1 Apr 2022 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430151222/https://www.cehrp.org/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera/ |archive-date=30 Apr 2022}}</ref> Flock's software integrates with police vehicle systems, including widely-used {{Wplink|Axon Enterprise|Axon}} dashcams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axon Partners with Flock Safety to Enhance Security for Cities and Neighborhoods |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |website=PR Newswire |date=2 Apr 2020 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404123408/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |archive-date=4 Apr 2020}}</ref>

The software platform includes FlockOS, a real-time crime center platform that enables users to view maps and geographic data, body camera and drone feeds, 911 call data, as well as traffic camera and acoustic sensor data.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Aug 2025 |title=The Evolution of FlockOS: How Customer Feedback Continues to Shape the Future |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/the-evolution-of-flockos-how-customer-feedback-continues-to-shape-the-future |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/PaFQu |archive-date=25 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> FlockOS enables the National LPR Network, a nationwide database for sharing and searching LPR data across jurisdictions; and Flock Nova, a data analytics platform that integrates LPR data with law enforcement systems, such as Records Management Systems (RMS) and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), to identify patterns.<ref name=":2" />

==Incidents==
===The FBI is accused in pending lawsuit to use Flock data to "create a domestic terrorist" (February 2026)===
In a recent reporting by LegalEagle on Youtube https://youtu.be/ZRZoGc3Wdpo?t=1138 at timestamp 18:58, court documents are shown where law enforcement collects 30 days of movements from Flock cameras (after the fact) in efforts to "construct the appearance the person is a domestic terrorist". The release of this footage was denied to ensure people not know where the cameras are in order to avoid them. This was a part of the ICE operation "Midway Blitz".
===Wrongful package theft accusation in Bow Mar, Colorado (September 2025)===
On 27 September 2025, Columbine Valley Police Sgt. Jamie Milliman wrongfully accused Denver resident Chrisanna Elser of package theft, relying exclusively on Flock Safety license plate reader data that placed her vehicle in Bow Mar during the robbery.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Andrew |title=Police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of package theft. She had her own evidence |url=https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |website=Denverite |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028180112/https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |archive-date=28 Oct 2025}}</ref> The officer asserted "zero doubt" about her guilt, telling her verbatim, "It is locked in. There is zero doubt. I wouldn't have come here unless I was 100% sure." He also bragged about the extensive surveillance network, stating "You can't get a breath of fresh air, in or out of that place, without us knowing."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Prentzel |first=Olivia |title=After police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of theft, she had to prove her own innocence |url=https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |website=The Colorado Sun |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112221400/https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> When Elser denied the accusation, Milliman refused to show her the supposed evidence, stating, "You have not been honest with me, so I'm not going to extend you any courtesy of showing you a video when I don't need to."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coon |first=Anna |title=Police use Flock cameras to wrongfully accuse Denver woman of theft |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |website=KDVR |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103031304/https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> Elser was compelled to compile extensive exculpatory evidence, including dashcam footage, Google Timeline data, witness statements, and surveillance images from her tailor. She ultimately submitted a seven-page affidavit and a voluminous Google Drive folder to prove her innocence.<ref name=":5" /> The summons was voided several weeks later after Police Chief Bret Cottrell reviewed her evidence, writing, "After reviewing the evidence you have provided (nicely done btw), we have voided the summons that was issued." However, the department provided neither an apology nor an explanation.<ref name=":6" />

===Denver contract and surveillance controversy (October 2025 ongoing)===
On 22 October 2025, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unilaterally renewed the city's contract with Flock Safety through an emergency executive order just hours before a town hall protest, after the Denver City Council had unanimously rejected the contract 12-0.<ref name="cbsdenver">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Chierstin |title=Some on the Denver City Council upset after Mayor Mike Johnston moves forward with controversial Flock cameras |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |website=CBS News Colorado |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030171650/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |archive-date=30 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name="coloradopolitics">{{Cite web |last=Grigsby |first=Deborah |title=Anger grows as Denver mayor extends Flock camera contract |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |website=Colorado Politics |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024231906/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> The council's rejection was due to a lack of guardrails around data access and privacy concerns.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> The mayor's move, described by Councilwoman Shontel Lewis as "'king' behavior," bypassed the democratic process and sparked immediate public backlash.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> A town hall protest organized by consumer advocate Louis Rossmann drew close to 700 attendees, filling a main conference room and overflow spaces.<ref name="coloradopolitics" /><ref name=":7" /> Rossmann had also published a guide for residents to oppose the cameras.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=A guide to de‑flocking Denver: here's EXACTLY what you need to do, step‑by‑step. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |website=[[YouTube]] |date=20 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> The new, no-cost five-month extension included new safeguards, such as a $100,000 fine on Flock for any unauthorized data sharing and cutting off access for all jurisdictions outside of the Denver Police Department.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" /> The mayor's office cited the technology's role in recovering stolen vehicles and solving homicides, while critics remained concerned about executive overreach and the system's potential for misuse.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" />

===Data sharing with federal immigration authorities (Ongoing)===
Federal immigration enforcement agencies systematically accessed Flock's license plate data through multiple methods despite state laws prohibiting such sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler
|first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows |url=https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |website=404 Media |date=27 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527141200/https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |archive-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> This included direct "front door" access where at least eight Washington law enforcement agencies enabled 1:1 data sharing with the U.S. Border Patrol,<ref name=":0" /> "back door" access where Border Patrol searched data from at least ten Washington police departments without explicit authorization,<ref name=":0" /> and "side door" searches where local officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" into search fields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media
|date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Internal Flock data revealed that CBP had access to more than 80,000 cameras nationwide, with searches conducted in multiple states, potentially violating state sanctuary laws.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=John |title=License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies among investigation concerns |url=https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |website=ABC7 |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827010855/https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |archive-date=27 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Investigation of abortion seeker (May 2025)===
A Johnson County, Texas sheriff's officer conducted a nationwide surveillance operation using Flock Safety's network to track a woman who had a self-managed abortion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion |url=https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |website=404 Media |date=29 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529181049/https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |archive-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> The search spanned 6,809 different Flock networks and queried data from over 83,000 cameras across multiple states.<ref name=":0" /> The officer specifically searched Flock camera data from Yakima and Prosser, Washington, accessing surveillance data from jurisdictions where abortion is legally protected to investigate someone from a restrictive state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime |url=https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |website=404 Media |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007135454/https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> While police initially claimed the surveillance was for the woman's "safety," internal documents revealed the case was officially logged as a "death investigation" and detectives had consulted the district attorney about charging the woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Gideon |title=Flock Gives Law Enforcement All Over the Country Access to Your Location |url=https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |website=ACLU Massachusetts |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018052911/https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> The incident sparked a congressional investigation and led to multiple jurisdictions re-evaluating their Flock contracts over concerns about reproductive rights surveillance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=I'm Hearing About More Pushback Against Flock, Fueled by Concern Over Anti-Immigrant Uses |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |website=ACLU |date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821161654/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Paused federal pilots and systemic data sharing with federal agencies (August 2025)===
Flock Safety announced it was pausing all ongoing pilot programs with Department of Homeland Security agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Langley |first=Garrett |date=25 Aug 2025 |title=Ensuring Local Compliance |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/ensuring-local-compliance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tdOCI |archive-date=25 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The company stated this pause was to "ensure local compliance" and admitted its previous public statements had "inadvertently provided inaccurate information" about the level of federal access to its network.<ref name=":3" />

This decision followed investigations revealing systemic data sharing with federal immigration authorities that potentially violated state laws in Washington, Illinois, and other states with sanctuary protections.<ref name=":0" /> A University of Washington Center for Human Rights report documented three methods of federal access:

*Front door access: At least eight Washington law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Yakima and Wenatchee, enabled direct data sharing with U.S. Border Patrol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee">{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Jordan |title=Flock Safety setting allowed U.S. Border Patrol access to Wenatchee Valley license plate data without police knowledge |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |website=The Wenatchee World |date=27 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103210114/https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref>

*Back door access: A default "National Lookup" setting allowed Border Patrol to access data from at least ten Washington agencies without explicit authorization. Police chiefs in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee stated they were unaware of this setting and disabled it upon discovery.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee" />

*Side door searches: Law enforcement officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" or "illegal immigration" into search fields.<ref name=":0" /> A public interest law firm noted Flock's pause of direct federal access does little to prevent this workaround, as "federal law enforcement cannot directly access this trove of information; they can just ask other Flock customers to run searches or share log-in information."<ref name="ij">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Dan |title=Public Interest Law Firm Responds to Flock Safety Pausing Federal Access to License Plate Reader Cameras |url=https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |website=Institute for Justice |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925231824/https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |archive-date=25 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Consumer complaints about business practices===
Multiple independent user reviews on {{Wplink|Trustpilot}}, as well as reports from legal advocacy groups, detail a range of consumer complaints against Flock Safety. These issues span predatory billing practices, unreliable hardware, inadequate customer support, and concerns over the value and ethics of the service.

*Predatory billing and contract issues: Customers report aggressive auto-renewal practices. One review alleges the company sent termination notices to the incorrect party and then enforced an auto-renewed two-year contract for nearly $10,000, demanding payment because the customer did not provide a thirty-day termination notice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiala |first=Steven |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steven Fiala on 1/8/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |website=Trustpilot |date=8 Jan 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108013844/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer claimed the company would not offer a refund for cameras they found to be useless, describing the system as a "rip off."<ref name="TrustPilot RR">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Ruben |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Ruben Rodriguez on 10/13/2023 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |website=Trustpilot |date=13 Oct 2023 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108014407/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> The Institute for Justice has raised concerns that Flock tries to "lock customers into its products."<ref name="ij" />

*Poor camera reliability and performance: Reviews frequently cite hardware failures and poor video quality. One neighborhood reported that a camera, costing $4,000 per year, was operational for only nine days before failing and had been offline for 25% of its total service time.<ref name="TrustPilot SE">{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Steve |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steve Elliott on 6/20/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |website=Trustpilot |date=20 Jun 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108020837/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer complained that the cameras are "not live" and lack night vision, concluding that a "$300 video camera system from Harbor Freight is 100% better."<ref name="TrustPilot RR" />

*Inadequate customer support: Numerous complaints have been made about poor customer service, particularly among smaller communities and organizations. One reviewer felt that the company is "focused on big city/county government contracts" and that "little guys are at the back of the line for support."<ref name="TrustPilot SE" /> The company's profile on TrustPilot indicates that it has not replied to negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |website=TrustPilot |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108022250/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |archive-date=8 Jan 2026 |quote=Hasn’t replied to negative reviews}}</ref>

*Ethical and legal concerns: Some criticisms extend beyond business practices to the product's societal impact. Major civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have published analyses raising significant privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley" /> The ACLU has also published analyses raising considerable privacy concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley2" />

==Lawsuits==
===''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (18 September 2025)===
A lawsuit in Norfolk, VA, revealed that the city's ALPR system has logged the location of a plaintiff's vehicle 526 times in 4 months.<ref name=":9" /> The second plaintiff had their vehicle's position logged 849 times in a similar time period. The ALPR system is provided by Flock to the Norfolk Police Department in a deal costing $2.2 million, in return for Flock providing services through to the end of 2027. The camera installation began in 2023 and, at present, there are 176 cameras around the city. The lawsuit is requesting that the plaintiff's data be deleted and the cameras be turned off, arguing that these actions constitute an infringement of the Fourth Amendment and a warrant-less search. Flock counters this assertion by claiming that "LPRs do not constitute a warrant-less search because they take point-in-time photos of cars in public and cannot continuously track the movements of any individual." This legal position was supported by a ruling from the Virginia Court of Appeals in October 2025, which reversed a lower court and found that warrant-less use of Flock's system does not violate the Fourth Amendment.<ref name=":10" />

===''United States v. Martin'' (11 October 2024)===
In ''United States v. Martin'' (E.D. Va.), the district court denied a motion to suppress evidence obtained via an ALPR network, issuing a memorandum opinion on 11 October 2024. The court concluded that the images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles on public roads and therefore did not establish a reasonable expectation of privacy for purposes of the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Robert E. |title=MEMORANDUM OPINION, United States v. Martin, No. 3:23-cr-150 (E.D. Va. Oct. 11, 2024) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |url-access=limited |website=vLex |date=11 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108024629/https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> 

Legal commentators have treated the ruling as a persuasive decision supporting warrant-less searches of ALPR/Flock databases in that jurisdiction; however, it remains a district-court decision and not binding precedent outside the Eastern District of Virginia. Courts in other jurisdictions have reached different conclusions on the warrant requirements for ALPR searches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grosdidier |first=Pierre |title=Authorities can search Flock databases without a warrant |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |website=Texas Bar Journal |date=Apr 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418012511/https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |archive-date=18 Apr 2025}}</ref>

===Public records lawsuits in Washington (2025)===
Multiple public-records disputes over Flock camera data have led to litigation in Washington. In one high-profile example, the cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood filed a declaratory-judgment action in Skagit County (Case No. 25-2-00717-29), asking a court to declare that images and data stored in Flock's AWS cloud are not "public records" under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA) unless and until a public agency accesses and downloads them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guildner |first=Emily |title=City of Sedro-Woolley and City of Stanwood v. Jose Rodriguez — Complaint for Declaratory Judgment |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |website=Scribd |date=16 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221830/https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The dispute became contested in multiple forums after the requester filed his own suit and responsive filings, alleging that the cities had violated the PRA. While the litigation proceeds, some municipalities have paused or disabled Flock camera deployments pending a judicial ruling on whether the raw images and data must be released as public records.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenna |title=Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |website=HeraldNet |date=10 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911213648/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |archive-date=11 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Norfolk Circuit Court warrant requirement (2024-2025)===
In June 2024, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge granted a defendant's motion to suppress evidence obtained from the city's Flock ALPR system, ruling that, in that case, warrant-less access to the system implicated the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Katie |title=Norfolk judge rejects police Flock camera evidence without warrant |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |website=The Virginian-Pilot |date=15 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702005515/https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |archive-date=2 Jul 2024}}</ref>

That trial-court ruling was later reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals in ''Commonwealth v. Church'' in Oct 2025, which concluded the circuit court erred and held that the ALPR images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles in public and therefore did not require a search warrant; the appellate court reversed the suppression and remanded for further proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beales |first=Randolph A. |title=Commonwealth v. Ronnie D. Church, No. 0737-25-1 (Va. Ct. App. Oct. 2025) (unpublished opinion) |url=https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |website=Virginia Court System |date=14 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028232244/https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |archive-date=28 Oct 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://deflock.me/ DeFlock: ALPR Location Map]
*[https://www.noalprs.org/ No ALPRs: Advocacy Group]
*[https://www.eff.org/issues/license-plate-readers EFF: License Plate Readers]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20260415082121/https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/flock_1.pdf ACLU: Fast-Growing Company Flock is Building a New AI-Driven Mass-Surveillance System]
*[https://www.wired.com/tag/automated-license-plate-readers/ Wired: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.vice.com/en/topic/automated-license-plate-readers Vice: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.technologyreview.com/tag/surveillance/ MIT Technology Review: Surveillance]
*[https://www.flock-restrictions.org/ Flock Restrictions: Policy Tracking]
*[https://www.urban.org/features/how-police-use-technology Urban Institute: Police Technology Use]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Agri Stats

2026-05-06T00:39:09Z

Neige: Stub notice

{{StubNotice}}

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1985
|Industry=Data Collection, Comparative Data
|Logo=Agri-stats-logo-920.png
|ParentCompany=Agri Stats Omega Holding Co. LP
|Type=Inc
|Website=https://www.agristats.com/|Description=Provide comparative agricultural data to organizations in the industry in order to support data driven decision making.}}

'''Agri Stats''' is a company based in Indiana, U.S. which collects and analyzes comparative data to sell to agricultural organizations in support of data driven decision making. They were founded in 1865 by Jim Cox, who was a poultry farmer at the time. The company website states that the business started "as a way to help chicken producers make informed decisions based on flock-level cost and performance data"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Company History |url=https://www.agristats.com/company-history/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Agri Stats}}</ref>. They have since expanded into other agricultural markets including but not limited to swine, feed, livestock, sanitation, and vaccination.

==Consumer-impact summary==

===Business Model===
With filings against the company by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice for anti-competitive practices<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=U.S. v. Agri Stats, Inc. |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/case/us-v-agri-stats-inc |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=U.S. Department of Justice}}</ref>, this shows a possibility for their business model being anti-competitive in nature.

===Market Control===
The nature of Agri Stats data means that if the services they are providing aren't sufficiently anonymized, then it can lead to unreasonable market control. Their business model relies on a preservation of "confidentiality among processors by masking the sources of the data it reports"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Douglas |first=Leah |last2=Leonard |first2=Christopher |date=2019-08-02 |title=Is the US chicken industry cheating its farmers? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/03/is-the-us-chicken-industry-cheating-its-farmers#:~:text=Agri%20Stats%20was%20founded%20in,anything%20about%20its%20business%20model. |url-status=live |work=The Guardian}}</ref>, however, de-anonymization, especially of sensitive information, can lead to a restraining of competition<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norris Donahue |first=Lauren |last2=Pereira Duarte |first2=Victoria |date=2024-10-15 |title=DOJ Speaks Again: Information Exchanges Can Constitute Stand-Alone Violation of Antitrust Laws |url=https://www.klgates.com/DOJ-Speaks-Again-Information-Exchanges-Can-Constitute-Stand-Alone-Violation-of-Antitrust-Laws-10-15-2024#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20more%20sensitive%20the%20information,information%20can%20still%20raise%20concerns. |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=K&L Gates}}</ref>.

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Anti-Competitive Practices===

====U.S. v. Agri Stats, Inc. (28 September 2023 - Present)====
On September 28, 2023 the Department of Justice filed a complaint against Agri Stats on the basis of violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, which states that any contract "in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1890-07-02 |title=CHAPTER 1-MONOPOLIES AND COMBINATIONS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title15-section1&num=0&edition=1999 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Office of the Law Revision Counsel - United States Code}}</ref>. In the filing the DOJ states that the United States brings action to "stop Agri Stats’ anticompetitive scheme and restore competition to heartland U.S. agriculture markets"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-10/416782.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Department of Justice}}</ref>. The complaint alleges that Agri Stats shared sensitive market information between competitors through subscription and business consultation services, which allowed processors to forecast competitors production and withhold output at beneficial times when it is was deemed profitable, potentially leading to higher than normal price increases. Additionally the DOJ states that Agri Stats shared sensitive wage information, farmer pay, and "other compensation metrics"<ref name=":0" />. On May 28, 2024 a Motion to Transfer and a Motion to Dismiss were filed with the District of Minnesota, both of which were dismissed<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/media/1359226/dl?inline |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Department of Justice |pages=5, 14}}</ref>.

On Monday May 4, 2026, U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche lead a news conference where White House adviser Peter Navarro expressed that the "U.S. Department of Justice plans to settle its case against data company Agri Stats with an agreement officials hope will help drive down food ‌costs"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Godoy |first=Jody |date=2026-05-04 |title=DOJ plans to settle Agri Stats case, White House official says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/doj-taking-aim-food-prices-acting-ag-says-2026-05-04/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |work=Reuters}}</ref>.

Agri Stats published a [https://www.agristats.com/doj-lawsuit-against-agri-stats-is-wrong-on-the-law-and-bad-for-consumers/ news article] on September 28, 2023 in response to the DOJ accusations, where they discuss the claim that their business practices assist producers in reducing production cost.

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}The companies product description can be found [https://www.agristats.com/services/ here].

==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Flock license plate readers

2026-05-06T00:34:11Z

Neige: Archived many Flock Safety website links. Some links needed to use archive.today but that is still better than unusable Wayback Machine links.

{{ProductCargo
|Company=Flock Safety
|ProductLine=Flock Safety Falcon
|ReleaseYear=2017
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Cameras, Security, Surveillance
|Logo=Flock License plate readers (LPR).png
|Website=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers
|Description=AI-powered automated license plate reader (ALPR) system that creates "Vehicle Fingerprints" by recording license plates, vehicle characteristics, and movement patterns for law enforcement use without individual consent or warrants.
}}
'''Flock License Plate Readers''' (previously known as '''Flock Safety Falcon'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Falcon |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/devices/falcon |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.ph/UjKM5 |archive-date=6 Dec 2024 |access-date=6 Dec 2024 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref>), are a network of AI-powered surveillance cameras that record vehicle data for law enforcement agencies. The system operates in over 5,000 communities across 49 states in the U.S.A.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Sarah |last2=Alajaji |first2=Rindala |date=27 Jun 2025 |title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628052030/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |archive-date=28 Jun 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref> According to the company's own marketing materials, Flock performs over 20 billion vehicle scans monthly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/yDtD1 |archive-date=7 March 2026 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
====Freedom====
Residents and taxpayers have no mechanism to opt out of [[Flock Safety]]'s surveillance network. The cameras operate 24/7 in public spaces, recording all passing vehicles regardless of consent. They are also placed on private premises like universities, hospitals, businesses, and neighborhood associations, which often share this data with law enforcement.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |date=19 Jun 2024 |title=FedEx's Secretive Police Force Is Helping Cops Build An AI Car Surveillance Network |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619112629/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |archive-date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=25 Aug 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref> This data can later be integrated into predictive police platforms like {{Wplink|Palantir Technologies|Palantir}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rettberg |first=Jill Walker |title=Machine Vision: How Algorithms are Changing the Way We See the World |date=11 Sep 2023 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons. |year=2023 |location=Google Books |pages=45-46 |language=English}}</ref>

Unlike traditional security cameras that may be avoided by choosing different routes, Flock's expanding network of over 100,000 cameras makes avoidance increasingly difficult.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eyes On Flock |url=https://eyesonflock.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008230140/https://eyesonflock.com/ |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=9 Dec 2025 |work=Eyes On Flock}}</ref> The system uses AI to create ''"Vehicle [[Device fingerprint|Fingerprints]]"'' that identify vehicles by characteristics beyond license plates, including make, model, color, aftermarket parts, window stickers, and roof racks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |date=23 Jul 2025 |title=Surveillance Company Flock Now Using AI to Report Us to Police if it Thinks Our Movement Patterns Are "Suspicious" |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/national-security/surveillance-company-flock-now-using-ai-to-report-us-to-police-if-it-thinks-our-movement-patterns-are-suspicious |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814053755/https://www.aclu.org/news/national-security/surveillance-company-flock-now-using-ai-to-report-us-to-police-if-it-thinks-our-movement-patterns-are-suspicious |archive-date=14 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=American Civil Liberties Union}}</ref>

====Privacy====
While Flock Safety claims their system doesn't violate Fourth Amendment rights because ''"license plates are not personal information,"''<ref name="Flock-PE">{{Cite web |title=Privacy & Ethics |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/privacy-ethics |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OP55p |archive-date=23 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref> federal courts have challenged this interpretation. In February 2024, a federal judge ruled that a lawsuit challenging Norfolk, Virginia's use of 172 Flock cameras could proceed, finding that plaintiffs had plausibly alleged the system creates a ''"detailed chronicle of a person's physical presence compiled every day."''<ref name="norfolk">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Dan |date=6 Feb 2024 |title=Judge Rules Lawsuit Challenging Norfolk's Use of Flock Cameras Can Proceed |url=https://ij.org/press-release/judge-rules-lawsuit-challenging-norfolks-use-of-flock-cameras-can-proceed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250717001536/https://ij.org/press-release/judge-rules-lawsuit-challenging-norfolks-use-of-flock-cameras-can-proceed/ |archive-date=17 Jul 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Institute for Justice}}</ref>

Data collected includes location history that can reveal sensitive information about medical visits, religious attendance, political activities, and personal associations. While Flock states data is deleted after 30 days, contracts grant them ''"perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license"'' to use anonymized data indefinitely.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/terms-and-conditions |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dGV0l |archive-date=9 June 2023 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref> The system shares data across a network of over 4,800 law enforcement agencies nationally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=2024 |title=Lawsuit Argues Warrantless Use of Flock Surveillance Cameras Is Unconstitutional |url=https://www.404media.co/lawsuit-argues-warrantless-use-of-flock-surveillance-cameras-is-unconstitutional/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826013458/https://www.404media.co/lawsuit-argues-warrantless-use-of-flock-surveillance-cameras-is-unconstitutional/ |archive-date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=404 Media}}</ref>

====="Anonymized Data"=====
While Flock's Terms and Conditions define "Anonymized Data" as customer data that is ''"permanently stripped of identifying details and any potential personally identifiable information"'' and is rendered so that a person or entity ''"can no longer be identified directly or indirectly,"'' this definition includes information such as vehicle make, model, color, location patterns, and other non–license-plate attributes.<ref name=":1" />

Privacy researchers caution that mobility datasets labeled as "anonymized" can still be re-identified. A 2013 MIT study found that just four spatio-temporal points uniquely identified 95% of individuals in an anonymized location dataset.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=de Montjoye |first=Y.-A. |last2=Hidalgo |first2=C. A. |last3=Verleysen |first3=M. |last4=Blondel |first4=V. D. |year=2013 |title=Unique in the Crowd: The privacy bounds of human mobility |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01376 |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=3 |pages=1376 |doi=10.1038/srep01376 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220062804/https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01376 |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> Multiple peer-reviewed studies from 2018-2024 demonstrate that "anonymized" vehicle location data can be re-identified with high accuracy. A 2022 study showed researchers could re-identify drivers from raw vehicle network data with 97% accuracy by exploiting inter-dependencies in sensor measurements.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167404822002139 |title=Privacy-preserving vehicle trajectory matching |website=ScienceDirect |date=2022 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240415115116/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167404822002139 |archive-date=15 Apr 2024}}</ref> Research published in the Journal of Computer Science and Technology (2022) found that even three to four location points can uniquely identify individuals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sun |first=She |last2=Ma |first2=Shuai |last3=Song |first3=Jing-He |last4=Yue |first4=Wen-Hai |last5=Lin |first5=Xue-Lian |last6=Ma |first6=Tiejun |date=2022 |title=Experiments and Analyses of Anonymization Mechanisms for Trajectory Data Publishing |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11390-022-2409-x |journal=Journal of Computer Science and Technology |doi=10.1007/s11390-022-2409-x |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240804052830/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11390-022-2409-x |archive-date=4 Aug 2024}}</ref>

====Business model====
Flock operates on a subscription model charging municipalities and law enforcement agencies $2,500 USD per camera annually plus installation costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://campbellca.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=279 |title=How much does a Flock Safety camera cost? |work=City of Campbell |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251001015154/https://campbellca.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=279 |archive-date=1 Oct 2025}}</ref> Private businesses including Home Depot, Lowe's, and FedEx also deploy cameras, sharing data with law enforcement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |title=Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops |first=Jason |last=Koebler |date=6 Aug 2025 |work=404 Media |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823135847/https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |archive-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Contracts include automatic renewal clauses and limit municipal oversight capabilities, with cities unable to audit system operations or control how other agencies use shared data.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/flock_1.pdf |title=How to Pump the Brakes on Your Police Department's Use of Flock's Mass Surveillance License Plate Readers |work=American Civil Liberties Union |date=2024 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126201758/https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/flock_1.pdf |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

====Market control====
Flock Safety has rapidly expanded to become a dominant force in automated license plate recognition, operating in 49 states with over 40,000 cameras deployed. The company's network effect creates pressure for additional jurisdictions to join, as law enforcement effectiveness depends on network coverage. Several states have begun restricting access following privacy violations, with California, Illinois, and New York limiting data sharing after immigration and abortion-related tracking incidents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.michaelrcronin.com/post/flock-blocks-ice-from-license-plate-reader-access-in-several-states |title='Flock' Blocks ICE from License Plate Reader Access in Several States |work=Yes You Can Go |date=2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062510/https://www.michaelrcronin.com/post/flock-blocks-ice-from-license-plate-reader-access-in-several-states |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Premise of a "license plate camera"===
While marketed as "license plate readers,"' Flock cameras use what the company calls "Vehicle Fingerprint" technology which tracks vehicles using characteristics beyond just license plates. The system catalogs vehicles based on numerous distinguishing features including make, model, color, bumper stickers, dents, damage patterns, roof racks, aftermarket modifications such as wheels or spoilers, window stickers, and even mismatching paint colors.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date= |title=LPR Cameras |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YWYB6 |archive-date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=26 Oct 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref>. According to Flock's own marketing materials, the system can identify vehicles even when license plates cannot be captured, advertised as turning "images into actionable evidence — no plate required."<ref>{{Cite web |title=License Plate Readers |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YWYB6 |archive-date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref>

Flock claims this capability is ''"unique among ALPR systems"'' and allows law enforcement to search for vehicles based on these characteristics even without a visible license plate.

This technology changes the nature of the surveillance from license plate reading to comprehensive vehicle tracking. A person could still be tracked by the unique combination of their vehicle's physical characteristics. The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that these ''"vehicle fingerprints"'' could flag vehicles based on political bumper stickers, revealing ''"information on the political or social views of the driver,"'' or economic indicators like rust or damage, potentially "endangering anyone who might not feel the need (or have the income required) to keep their car in perfect shape."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-14 |title=Things to Know Before Your Neighborhood Installs an Automated License Plate Reader |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/flock-license-plate-reader-homeowners-association-safe-problems |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Electronic Frontier Foundation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221033709/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/flock-license-plate-reader-homeowners-association-safe-problems |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Privacy advocates note that this expanded tracking capability makes the term ''"license plate reader"'' misleading, as Flock systems create detailed vehicle profiles that persist even without readable plates. It turns any distinguishing feature of a vehicle into a tracking identifier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Flock |url=https://www.stopflock.com/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Stop Flock |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251222060644/https://stopflock.com/ |archive-date=22 Dec 2025}}</ref>

==Patent for person identification by race and physical characteristics==
A U.S. Patent granted to Flock Group Inc. in August 2022 reveals the company has developed and patented technology to identify and classify people based on race, gender, and other physical characteristics.<ref name="patent11416545">{{Cite web |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/77/9a/03/7b3b26499077d4/US11416545.pdf |title=System and Method for Object Based Query of Video Content Captured by a Dynamic Surveillance Network |website=United States Patent and Trademark Office |date=16 Aug 2022 |access-date=21 Jan 2025 |format=PDF |first1=Garrett |last1=Langley |first2=Matt |last2=Feury  |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260202115638/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/77/9a/03/7b3b26499077d4/US11416545.pdf |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref> Patent US 11,416,545 B1 describes a system that goes beyond vehicle identification to analyze human subjects captured in surveillance footage.

According to the patent documentation, when the system identifies a human being in captured footage, it uses neural network modules specifically configured to classify people by "male, female, race, etc." The patent further describes using additional neural networks to identify clothing types, estimate height and weight, and other physical characteristics of individuals.<ref name="patent11416545" /> The system can then store this classification data in searchable databases, allowing law enforcement to query for people based on these physical attributes.

The patent shows that Flock's technology is designed to create comprehensive profiles that can track individuals across multiple camera locations by matching physical characteristics. While Flock publicly markets its products as ''"license plate readers"'' focused on vehicles, this patent demonstrates the company has developed capabilities for detailed human surveillance and classification by protected characteristics including race and gender.<ref name="patent11416545" />

Privacy and civil-liberties advocates have warned that biometric/appearance-based identification and classification—especially along race and gender lines—can enable discriminatory policing and amplify harms from demographic bias and misidentification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How is Face Recognition Surveillance Technology Racist? |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=2020-06-16 |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/how-is-face-recognition-surveillance-technology-racist |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045330/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/how-is-face-recognition-surveillance-technology-racist |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NIST Study Evaluates Effects of Race, Age, Sex on Face Recognition Software |website=National Institute of Standards and Technology |date=2019-12-19 |url=https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2019/12/nist-study-evaluates-effects-race-age-sex-face-recognition-software |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213231602/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2019/12/nist-study-evaluates-effects-race-age-sex-face-recognition-software |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> In that context, the Flock Group patent’s explicit discussion of classifying people by attributes including “race” and “male/female” suggests capabilities that extend beyond vehicle identification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US11416545B1 - System and method for object based query of video content captured by a dynamic surveillance network |website=Google Patents |date=2022-08-16 |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US11416545B1 |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204132539/https://patents.google.com/patent/US11416545B1 |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Legal challenges==

===Washington state judge declares Flock footage as public records ''(6 Nov 2025)''===
An Oregon resident filed public records requests at various police departments in the state of Washington regarding information collected from Flock cameras. The cities of Stanwood and Sedro-Woolley filed a motion to reject the resident's request, with their attorney stating that publicizing Flock footage may be a violation of privacy that could lead to stalking.

Some exemptions are given to deny public records request, particularly due to investigations. However, the judge dismissed the motion, declaring that the camera footage was "so broad and indiscriminate" with no distinction between criminal activity and casual civilian activity that the data had to be released to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingalls |first=Chris |date=6 Nov 2025 |title=Judge orders police to release surveillance camera data, raising privacy questions |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/investigations/investigators/judge-orders-washington-police-release-surveillance-camera-data-privacy-questions/281-c2037d52-6afb-4bf7-95ad-0eceaf477864 |access-date=8 Nov 2025 |website=KING5 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251110233248/https://www.king5.com/article/news/investigations/investigators/judge-orders-washington-police-release-surveillance-camera-data-privacy-questions/281-c2037d52-6afb-4bf7-95ad-0eceaf477864 |archive-date=10 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenna |date=6 Nov 2025 |title=Judge denies request to exempt Flock footage from Public Records Act |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/judge-denies-request-to-exempt-flock-footage-from-public-records-act/ |access-date=8 Nov 2025 |website=Herald Net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251226145253/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/judge-denies-request-to-exempt-flock-footage-from-public-records-act/ |archive-date=26 Dec 2025}}</ref>

The judge stated:<ref name=":5" /><blockquote>“I do think that the information at stake does have serious privacy implications, but that’s not the analysis for the intelligence information exemption,” she said. “You also have to make a finding that this is specific intelligence information that is compiled by investigative or law enforcement agencies, and the information that’s being compiled here does not relate to a specific case or investigation. The public already knows that these cameras exist and are operated. Many of them are in sight. The information does not disclose particular methods or procedures for gathering or evaluating intelligence information.” </blockquote>

===Norfolk federal lawsuit ''(February 2025)''===
In February 2025, Chief Judge Mark S. Davis of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia denied Norfolk's motion to dismiss a landmark Fourth Amendment lawsuit. The case involves two residents whose vehicles were tracked 526 times in 4.5 months and 849 times over the same period, figures revealed in a September 2025 court filing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399|title=Virginia police used Flock cameras to track driver 526 times in 4 months, lawsuit says|work=NBC News|date=2025-09-18|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002237/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> Norfolk installed 172 Flock Safety cameras in 2023 at a cost of $430,000-$516,000 annually. Police Chief Mark Talbot stated the goal was making it ''"difficult to drive anywhere of any distance without running into a camera somewhere."''<ref name="norfolk" />

Judge Davis's ruling relied on ''Carpenter v. United States'', the 2018 Supreme Court decision requiring warrants for historical cell phone location data. The court found Norfolk's ALPR network "notably similar" to the surveillance the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional. However, courts remain divided. In November 2024, Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne in the same district denied a motion to suppress Flock evidence, holding that three vehicle snapshots don't constitute "persistent surveillance" requiring a warrant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://valawyersweekly.com/2024/11/11/mosaic-theory-rejected-flock-camera-evidence-does-not-violate-fourth-amendment/|title='Mosaic theory' rejected: Flock camera evidence does not violate Fourth Amendment|website=Virginia Lawyers Weekly|date=2024-11-11|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208113511/https://valawyersweekly.com/2024/11/11/mosaic-theory-rejected-flock-camera-evidence-does-not-violate-fourth-amendment/ |archive-date=8 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Virginia state courts show similar disagreement. Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Jamilah LeCruise granted a suppression motion in May 2024, finding that the breadth of Flock cameras covering Norfolk requires a warrant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/virginia-judge-rejects-alpr-evidence-without-warrant|title=Virginia Judge Rejects ALPR Evidence Without Warrant|website=Government Technology|date=2024-05-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213050025/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/virginia-judge-rejects-alpr-evidence-without-warrant |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> Yet three other Norfolk circuit court judges denied similar motions in 2024.

===State regulatory landscape===
Only 16 states have enacted any form of ALPR regulation as of 2024 according to University of Michigan research.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse|title=Automated License Plate Readers widely used, subject to abuse|website=University of Michigan|date=2023|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205112852/https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref> Virginia enacted House Bill 2724 in 2025 creating annual reporting requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vscc.virginia.gov/Annual%20Reports/2024%20VSCC%20Annual%20Report%20-Law%20Enforcement%20Use%20of%20ALPR.pdf|title=2024 VSCC Annual Report - Law Enforcement Use of ALPR|website=Virginia State Crime Commission|date=2024|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207225650/https://vscc.virginia.gov/Annual%20Reports/2024%20VSCC%20Annual%20Report%20-Law%20Enforcement%20Use%20of%20ALPR.pdf |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref> Illinois Public Act 103-0540 explicitly prohibits use for reproductive healthcare punishment and immigration investigations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/103/103-0540.htm|title=Public Act 103-0540|website=Illinois General Assembly|date=2024|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250223092503/https://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/103/103-0540.htm |archive-date=23 Feb 2025}}</ref>

Illinois prohibits law enforcement agencies from sharing ALPR data with other jurisdictions in relation to a person's immigration status.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public Act 103-0540 |url=https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/publicacts/103/PDF/103-0540.pdf |url-status=usurped |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Illinois General Assembly |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251031232338/https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/publicacts/103/PDF/103-0540.pdf |archive-date=31 Oct 2025}}</ref> New Hampshire requires a three-minute purge of data from ALPR use with the exception of ongoing investigations. <ref>{{Cite web |title=261:75-b Use of Number Plate Scanning Devices Regulated. |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/title-xxi/chapter-261/section-261-75-b/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=New Hampshire General Court}}</ref>

California’s SB 34 requires public agencies using ALPR systems to implement usage and privacy policies as well as limits to data sharing. <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB34 |title=SB-34 Automated license plate recognition systems: use of data |work=California Legislative Information |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220181318/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB34 |archive-date=20 Dec 2025}}</ref> However, enforcement remains inconsistent, with a 2020 state audit finding widespread non-compliance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/index.html |title=Automated License Plate Readers |work=California State Auditor |date=13 Feb 2020 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230930215217/https://auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/index.html |archive-date=30 Sep 2023}}</ref>

==Notable incidents==

====Illinois audit findings (2024-2025)====
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced in late August 2024 that Flock Safety violated state law by allowing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to access Illinois license plate data for immigration enforcement.<ref>{{cite web |date=2024-08-25 |title=Flock Safety's Response to Illinois LPR Data Use and Out-of-State Sharing Concerns |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safetys-response-to-illinois-lpr-data-use-and-out-of-state-sharing-concerns |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/XNzcS |archive-date=5 May 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The audit of 12 local law enforcement agencies revealed unauthorized pilot programs with CBP and Homeland Security Investigations, violating Illinois law prohibiting data sharing for immigration enforcement, gender-affirming care investigations, and abortion-related matters. Following the audit, 47 out-of-state agencies were removed from access to Illinois data.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/biz/flock-pledges-changes-after-illinois-data-sharing-accusation|title=Flock Pledges Changes After Illinois Data-Sharing Accusation|website=Government Technology|date=2024-08-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002252/https://www.govtech.com/biz/flock-pledges-changes-after-illinois-data-sharing-accusation |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mount Prospect, Illinois reported 262 immigration-related license plate reader searches in just the first few months of 2025. A Palos Heights detective shared Flock login credentials with a DEA agent who conducted 28 unauthorized searches of Oak Park ALPR data explicitly labeled "immigration violation."<ref name="dea">{{Cite web|url=https://unraveledpress.com/a-dea-agent-used-an-illinois-police-officers-flock-license-plate-reader-password-for-unauthorized-immigration-enforcement-searches/|title=DEA agent used Illinois cop's Flock license plate reader password for immigration enforcement searches|work=Unraveled Press|date=2025|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218115628/https://unraveledpress.com/a-dea-agent-used-an-illinois-police-officers-flock-license-plate-reader-password-for-unauthorized-immigration-enforcement-searches/ |archive-date=18 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====California violations (2015-2025)====
California passed Senate Bill 34<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_201520160sb34|title=Senate Bill 34|access-date=2025-08-27 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114051856/https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_201520160sb34 |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref> in 2015 to limit how California police departments can use and share data collected from these cameras with other state's and federal law enforcement agencies. These limits have been found to be violated on several occasions with little enforcement or consequences for the misusing departments<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sfstandard.com/2025/07/23/california-police-sharing-flock-license-plate-data/|access-date=2025-08-27|title=California cops are breaking surveillance laws|website=San Francisco Standard|date=2025-07-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118202113/https://sfstandard.com/2025/07/23/california-police-sharing-flock-license-plate-data/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref>.

A 2023 EFF investigation found 71 California police agencies in 22 counties illegally shared data with out-of-state law enforcement. San Francisco Police Department alone allowed 1.6 million illegal searches by out-of-state agencies from 2024-2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/08/sfpd-flock-alpr-ice-data-sharing/|title=SFPD let Georgia, Texas cops illegally search city surveillance data on behalf of ICE|website=San Francisco Standard|date=2025-09-08|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118202113/https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/08/sfpd-flock-alpr-ice-data-sharing/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref> The California Attorney General filed the first enforcement action against the City of El Cajon in 2025 for sharing with 26 states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-sues-el-cajon-illegally-sharing-license-plate-data-out|title=Attorney General Bonta Sues El Cajon for Illegally Sharing License Plate Data|website=California DOJ|date=2025|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219035817/https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-sues-el-cajon-illegally-sharing-license-plate-data-out |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===False positive incidents===

====Families detained at gunpoint====
In Española, New Mexico, 21-year-old Jaclynn Gonzales and her 12-year-old sister were held at gunpoint and handcuffed after Flock's system mistook a "2" for a "7" on their license plate, falsely flagging their vehicle as stolen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-28 |title=License plate cover leads to traffic stop mishap |url=https://www.koat.com/article/espanola-police-license-plate-stolen-cover-traffic-stop/45361740|website=KOAT|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203063901/https://www.koat.com/article/espanola-police-license-plate-stolen-cover-traffic-stop/45361740 |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Flock Safety: Eroding Your Privacy & Keeping You Safe with Surveillance |url=https://redact.dev/blog/flock-safety-lpr-privacy-surveillance/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Redact |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045516/https://redact.dev/blog/flock-safety-lpr-privacy-surveillance/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

ALPR systems often misread license plates according to multiple investigations, leading to hardship & legal trouble for innocent civilians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/11/human-toll-alpr-errors|title=The Human Toll of ALPR Errors|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=2024-11-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217071819/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/11/human-toll-alpr-errors |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref>

===Law enforcement stalking incidents===

In October 2022, Kechi, Kansas Police Lieutenant Victor Heiar was arrested and later pleaded guilty to computer crimes and stalking after using Flock cameras to track his estranged wife's movements over four months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/|title=Kechi police lieutenant arrested for using police technology to stalk wife|work=KWCH|date=2022-10-31|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216093439/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> In a separate Kansas incident, Sedgwick Police Chief Lee Nygaard accessed Flock data 164 times to track his ex-girlfriend before resigning after admitting to the misuse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html|title=Kansas police chief used Flock license plate cameras 164 times to track ex-girlfriend|work=Yahoo News|date=2025|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124143444/https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Multiple other documented cases include Las Vegas Metro Officer Christopher Young arrested in December 2023 for stalking his ex-fiancée using police databases, and Riverside County Deputy Eric Piscatella pleading guilty in February 2024 to seven counts of misusing sheriff's department databases to stalk a woman he met at Coachella.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/?outputType=amp|title=Las Vegas police officer arrested for reportedly stalking ex-fiancée|website=FOX5 Vegas|date=2024-02-16|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213030246/https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/?outputType=amp |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Abortion and reproductive healthcare tracking===
In May 2025, Johnson County, Texas sheriff's deputies used Flock's network to track a woman suspected of self-managing an abortion. They conducted searches across 83,000+ Flock cameras nationwide with the explicit reason: "had an abortion, search for female." The search accessed cameras across multiple states including those where abortion is legal. The incident led Illinois officials to investigate and subsequently block 47+ out-of-state agencies from accessing Illinois ALPR data.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2025/06/13/after-finding-fetal-remains-north-texas-cops-used-camera-network-to-search-for-woman/|title=After finding fetal remains, North Texas cops used camera network to search for woman|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=2025-06-13|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045557/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2025/06/13/after-finding-fetal-remains-north-texas-cops-used-camera-network-to-search-for-woman/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/05/she-got-abortion-so-texas-cop-used-83000-cameras-track-her-down|title=She Got an Abortion. So A Texas Cop Used 83,000 Cameras to Track Her Down|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=2025-05-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260125222243/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/05/she-got-abortion-so-texas-cop-used-83000-cameras-track-her-down |archive-date=25 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Investigations and court records show that some law enforcement officers have misused Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems for personal, non-investigative purposes, including stalking romantic partners or monitoring civilians. These incidents highlight weaknesses & lack of internal oversight, & the reliance on post-hoc audits rather than real-time safeguards.

In Menasha, Wisconsin, police officer Cristian Morales was charged in January 2026 with misconduct in office after allegedly using the department’s Flock ALPR system to track his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors alleged Morales conducted five unauthorized searches of his ex-partner’s vehicle in October 2025. According to the criminal complaint, Morales admitted he knew the searches were improper and cited “desperation and bad judgment.” He was placed on administrative leave, prohibited from accessing Flock systems, and released on a $10,000 cash bond pending further proceedings. Court records also show a related civil filing seeking a temporary restraining order in a domestic abuse case.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kerhin |first=Brian |date=2026-01-09 |title=Menasha police officer accused of using license plate recognition system to track his ex |url=https://fox11online.com/news/crime/menasha-police-officer-accused-of-using-license-plate-recognition-system-to-track-his-ex |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/V8GGF |archive-date=13 January 2026 |work=FOX 11 News}}</ref>

The Menasha case matches what is becoming a national pattern. In Kansas, Kechi Police Lieutenant Victor Heiar pleaded guilty in 2022 to computer crimes & stalking after using Flock cameras to monitor his estranged wife’s movements over several months.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Joe |date=2022-10-31 |title=Kechi police lieutenant arrested for using police technology to stalk wife |url=https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216093439/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026 |work=KWCH}}</ref> In another Kansas incident, Sedgwick Police Chief Lee Nygaard admitted in 2025 to accessing Flock ALPR data more than 160 times to track his ex-girlfriend and her new partner, resulting in his resignation and loss of police certification.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stavola |first=Michael |date=August 17, 2024 |title=Kansas police chief used Flock license plate cameras to track ex-girlfriend |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124143444/https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026 |work=Yahoo News}}</ref>

More cases involving other surveillance systems show a similar misuse. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer Christopher Young was arrested in 2023 for stalking his ex-fiancée using police databases, and in California, Riverside County deputy Eric Piscatella pleaded guilty in 2024 to multiple counts of misusing sheriff’s department databases to stalk a woman he met while off duty.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCandless |first=C.C. |date=2024-02-16 |title=Las Vegas police officer arrested for reportedly stalking ex-fiancée |url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240907035401/https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/ |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |work=FOX5 Vegas}}</ref>

Oversight reviews & civil liberties organizations have noted that ALPR systems enable quick searches of historical vehicle location data across wide geographic areas. This reduces practical barriers to stalking & increases the risk of abuse by authorized users. While Flock & participating agencies rely on usage policies & access logs, many cases show misuse was detected only after complaints or later audits rather than through proactive safeguards.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 22, 2023 |title=Automated License Plate Readers widely used, subject to abuse |url=https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205112852/https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse |archive-date=5 Feb 2026 |work=University of Michigan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Davidson |first=Nikki |date=April 16, 2024 |title=ALPR Audit Takeaways: What We Learned About Policy Gaps |url=https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251226002217/https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-date=26 Dec 2025 |work=Government Technology}}</ref>

===Federal agency access===
Immigration and Customs Enforcement maintains a $6.1 million contract giving 9,000+ ICE officers access to the Vigilant Solutions ALPR database containing over 5 billion location data points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/documents-reveal-ice-using-driver-location-data|title=Documents Reveal ICE Using Driver Location Data From Local Police for Deportations|website=ACLU|date=2024|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220150454/https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/documents-reveal-ice-using-driver-location-data |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> The Drug Enforcement Administration operates a National License Plate Reader Program with over 10,000 license plate readers shared throughout the United States. 404 Media revealed over 4,000 searches by local and state police for federal immigration enforcement purposes, despite Flock having no formal ICE contract.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |date=2025 |title=ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows |url=https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |url-access=registration |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=404 Media}}</ref> A DEA agent was found using an Illinois police officer's credentials to conduct unauthorized immigration searches.<ref name="dea" />

===Illegal Camera Installations===
In South Carolina, Flock installed over 200 cameras without authorization, leading to a statewide moratorium on new installations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferrara |first=David |date=2024-03-11 |title=A company installed license plate cameras without permission. SC agency wants clear rules |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/alpr-cameras-south-carolina-flock-safety-license-plate-readers/article_787a262a-dbd2-11ee-a901-634acead588b.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=The Post and Courier |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212144432/https://www.postandcourier.com/news/alpr-cameras-south-carolina-flock-safety-license-plate-readers/article_787a262a-dbd2-11ee-a901-634acead588b.html |archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref>

In Illinois, a Flock representative allegedly threatened a Department of Transportation official with police pressure when questioned about permit applications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Uprise RI Staff |date=2024-10-23 |title=As Flock Surveillance Cameras Proliferate in Rhode Island, Lawsuit Challenges Their Legality |url=https://upriseri.com/as-flock-surveillance-cameras-proliferate-in-rhode-island-lawsuit-challenges-their-legality/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=UPRISE RI |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241101064737/https://upriseri.com/as-flock-surveillance-cameras-proliferate-in-rhode-island-lawsuit-challenges-their-legality/ |archive-date=1 Nov 2024}}</ref>

====='''Evanston, IL'''=====
Flock was ordered to remove 18 stationary cameras. The city put the contract with Flock on a 30-day termination notice on August 26. Flock Initially appeared to comply, removing 15 of the cameras by September 8. Later, Flock was caught reinstalling all of them by the following Tuesday without authorization from the city. The city of Evanston responded with a cease-and-desist order for Flock to remove the new and unauthorized camera equipment. Because Flock reinstalled the cameras without permission, Evanston was forced to cover the cameras with tape and bags to block them from potentially logging vehicle data.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Alex |date=2025-09-25 |title=City covers Flock cameras while waiting for removal |url=https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/09/25/city-covers-up-flock-cameras-while-waiting-for-removal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002233/https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/09/25/city-covers-up-flock-cameras-while-waiting-for-removal/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-10 |website=Evanston Roundtable}}</ref>

===City rejections and terminations===

Multiple cities have rejected or terminated Flock contracts following privacy concerns and effectiveness issues:

'''0.2% effectiveness rate, low arrests:''' Austin, Texas terminated its contract in July 2025 after an audit revealed "systematic compliance failures" and only 165 arrests from 113 million license plate scans (0.146% effectiveness rate).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/flock-ceo-responds-to-austin-backlash-as-city-contract-nears-expiration|title=Flock CEO responds to Austin backlash as city contract nears expiration|work=CBS Austin|date=2025-06-21|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216120645/https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/flock-ceo-responds-to-austin-backlash-as-city-contract-nears-expiration |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Denver City Council unanimously rejected a $666,000 contract extension in May 2025 following revelations of 1,400+ ICE-related searches in Colorado data.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zialcita |first=Paolo |last2=Harris |first2=Kyle |date=2025-05-05 |title=Denver rejects $666,000 extension for license-plate surveillance cameras after backlash |url=https://denverite.com/2025/05/05/denver-rejects-flock-camera-license-plate-readers/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216120658/https://denverite.com/2025/05/05/denver-rejects-flock-camera-license-plate-readers/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Denverite}}</ref>

San Marcos, Texas voted 5-2 to deny camera expansion after discovering no required audits had been conducted since 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Velez |first=Abigail |date=2025-06-04 |title=San Marcos City Council votes to deny flock camera expansion after hours of heated debate |url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/san-marcos-city-council-votes-to-deny-flock-camera-expansion-after-hours-of-heated-debate |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=CBS Austin |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122133613/https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/san-marcos-city-council-votes-to-deny-flock-camera-expansion-after-hours-of-heated-debate |archive-date=22 Nov 2025}}</ref>

Oak Park, Illinois terminated their contract entirely following the Illinois investigation into illegal data sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heffernan |first=Brendan |date=2025-08-07 |title=Oak Park terminates Flock license plate reader contract |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2025/08/07/oak-park-terminates-flock-license-plate-reader-contract/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218115622/https://www.oakpark.com/2025/08/07/oak-park-terminates-flock-license-plate-reader-contract/ |archive-date=18 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Wednesday Journal}}</ref>

===Arizona deployments===
Sedona, Arizona became the first Arizona city to completely terminate its Flock Safety contract in September 2025 after citizen backlash. The city had installed 11 cameras in June 2025 without prior public notice at a cost of $51,146 for the first year. The council voted 5-1 to pause the program, then unanimously 7-0 on September 9 to permanently terminate after Flock CEO Garrett Langley admitted the company had been sharing data with federal agencies. Vice Mayor Holli Ploog called Flock "not an honorable company" for the conflicting data-sharing claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://westvalleyfamilies.substack.com/p/sedona-pulls-the-plug-on-flock-safety|title=Sedona Pulls the Plug on Flock Safety|website=West Valley Families|date=2025-09-10|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209130335/https://westvalleyfamilies.substack.com/p/sedona-pulls-the-plug-on-flock-safety |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Skabelund |first=Adrian |date=2025-09-11 |title=Sedona council permanently ends license plate camera program |url=https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2025-09-11/sedona-council-permanently-ends-license-plate-camera-program |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212215752/https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2025-09-11/sedona-council-permanently-ends-license-plate-camera-program |archive-date=12 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=KNAU}}</ref>

Flagstaff deployed 32 Flock cameras in summer 2024 at a cost of $143,100 annually. By September 2025, a petition signed by 25+ residents demanded cancellation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Marizco |first=Michel |date=2025-09-01 |title=After Sedona paused Flock Safety camera system, Flagstaff is considering the same issue |url=https://www.kjzz.org/fronteras-desk/2025-09-01/after-sedona-paused-flock-safety-camera-system-flagstaff-is-considering-the-same-issue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045803/https://www.kjzz.org/fronteras-desk/2025-09-01/after-sedona-paused-flock-safety-camera-system-flagstaff-is-considering-the-same-issue |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=KJZZ}}</ref>

University of Arizona contracted with Flock in February 2025 for 54 ALPR cameras at $160,000 annually. Students and faculty launched a "Deflock Tucson" campaign citing concerns about tracking international students and potential data sharing with federal immigration authorities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kunichoff |first=Yana |date=2025-09-15 |title=UA students and faculty question use of Flock Safety cameras on campus |url=https://azluminaria.org/2025/09/15/ua-students-and-faculty-question-use-of-flock-safety-cameras-on-campus/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002242/https://azluminaria.org/2025/09/15/ua-students-and-faculty-question-use-of-flock-safety-cameras-on-campus/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=AZ Luminaria}}</ref>

Casa Grande approved a $10 million "Safe City Initiative" in September 2025 including 100 license plate readers. Chief Mark McCrory reported the current 22 license plate readers led to 212 stolen vehicles identified and 168 arrests.<ref>{{cite web |last=Iverson |first=David |date=2025 |title=We mapped the city's Flock cameras |url=https://www.inmaricopa.com/we-mapped-all-flock-cameras/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002923/https://inmaricopa.com/we-mapped-all-flock-cameras/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=InMaricopa}}</ref>

Despite documented deployments across Arizona including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Surprise, Youngtown, Litchfield Park, and Yuma, the state has no ALPR-specific regulation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grauer |first=Yael |date=2019-07-08 |title=How do automated license plate readers work? |url=https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/how-do-automated-license-plate-readers-work/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114035603/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/how-do-automated-license-plate-readers-work/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=Arizona Mirror}}</ref>

==Security vulnerabilities==
In 2025, Flock Safety reported security vulnerabilities in its devices and submitted them to MITRE for inclusion in the National Vulnerability Database, including issues such as hard-coded credentials and improper access controls.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-05 |title=Gunshot Detection and License Plate Reader Security Alert |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/gunshot-detection-and-license-plate-reader-security-alert |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/2DEQv |archive-date=5 May 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=CVE-2025-59403 : The Flock Safety Android Collins application (aka com.flocksafety.android.collin |url=https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-59403/ |website=CVEdetails.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207014907/https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-59403/ |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref> Similar security concerns have affected other ALPR systems, including exposure of default passwords and unencrypted data storage.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Quintin |first=Cooper |date=28 Oct 2015 |title=License Plate Readers Exposed! How Public Safety Agencies Responded to Major Vulnerabilities in Vehicle Surveillance Tech |url=https://www.eff.org/ur/deeplinks/2015/10/license-plate-readers-exposed-how-public-safety-agencies-responded-massive |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210130106/https://www.eff.org/ur/deeplinks/2015/10/license-plate-readers-exposed-how-public-safety-agencies-responded-massive |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref>

This represents one of several major security disclosures in the past decade. In 2015, the Electronic Frontier Foundation documented more than 100 ALPR cameras accessible on the open internet, often without passwords or proper configuration.<ref name=":4" /> A more serious documented breach occurred in 2019, when Perceptics, LLC, a subcontractor for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, exposed approximately 105,000 license plate images and 184,000 traveler facial images.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review of CBP's Major Cybersecurity Incident During a 2019 Biometric Pilot |url=https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2020-09/OIG-20-71-Sep20.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260121195004/https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2020-09/OIG-20-71-Sep20.pdf |archive-date=21 Jan 2026}}</ref>

In 2025 it has been discovered that the cameras run [[wikipedia:Android_Oreo|Android 8.0 (Oreo)]] an operating system with 90 security vulnerabilities. The cameras also send data unencrypted and are easily tricked by stingrays. The compute boxes have easily accessible USB-c ports leaving the device vulnerable to rubber duckies. When the power button is pressed in a specific order the device emits a Wi-Fi hotspot that can be used to gain [[wikipedia:Android_Debug_Bridge|ADB]] access.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benn |first=Jordan |date=2025-11-16 |title=We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras in under 30 Seconds. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB0gr7Fh6lY |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=uB0gr7Fh6lY |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Government accountability and oversight==

===State audit findings===
California State Auditor's February 2020 investigation found the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), with a 320 million image database, had no ALPR-specific policy at all. The audit found 96% of agencies claim to have policies, but most are incomplete. Data retention periods varied wildly with no justification. LAPD maintained a minimum five-year retention period, yet couldn't demonstrate that images stored for years had investigative value. The audit found that 99.9% of the 320 million images Los Angeles stores are for vehicles that were not on a "hot list" when the image was made.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/summary.html |title=Automated License Plate Readers |website=California State Auditor |date=13 Feb 2020 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113154443/https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/summary.html |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref>

New Jersey provides a contrasting model with mandatory annual audits of all 523 law enforcement agencies. The 2024 audit reported only two significant violations, both involving users who hadn't completed required training.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=2024 Audit of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Data |url=https://nj.gov/njsp/ALPR/pdf/2024_Audit_Automated_License_Plate_Recognition_(ALPR)_Data_Collected_Utilized_NJ_Law_Enforcement_Agencies.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207224414/https://nj.gov/njsp/ALPR/pdf/2024_Audit_Automated_License_Plate_Recognition_(ALPR)_Data_Collected_Utilized_NJ_Law_Enforcement_Agencies.pdf |archive-date=7 Dec 2025 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |website=New Jersey State Police |format=PDF}}</ref>

A Government Technology analysis found that agencies often fail to audit ALPR systems regularly, leaving them "open to abuse by neglecting to institute sufficient oversight."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Nikki |date=2024 |title=ALPR Audit Takeaways: What We Learned About Policy Gaps |url=https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251226002217/https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-date=26 Dec 2025 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |website=Government Technology}}</ref>

===Cost-benefit analysis===
Arizona Department of Transportation's 2008 study of generic ALPR technology (predating Flock Safety by nine years) estimated $9.98 million for a hypothetical statewide ALPR system. The projected benefit-to-cost ratio of 9.6:1 came entirely from registration and insurance compliance, not crime reduction.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.azdot.gov/files/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ637.pdf |title=Automated License Plate Recognition Technology Implementation Report |website=Arizona Department of Transportation |date=1 Jun 2008 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208050300/https://apps.azdot.gov/files/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/pdf/az637.pdf |archive-date=8 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Colorado's Office of Research and Statistics reported that while ALPR systems are expanding, independent academic research contradicts vendor claims. A 2011 George Mason University study concluded ALPRs "do not achieve a prevention or deterrent effect" on crime.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/Docs/Briefs/2024-05_InDetail-ALPR.pdf |title=Automated License Plate Readers (In Detail) |website=Colorado Division of Criminal Justice |date=1 May 2024 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212210653/https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/Docs/Briefs/2024-05_InDetail-ALPR.pdf |archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Oakland Police Department reported 182 arrests from ALPR in the first year, representing 1.4% of homicides, robberies, burglaries, and firearm assaults. The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center states approximately 1-2 vehicles out of 1,000 initiate alerts — a hit rate of just 0.1-0.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf |title=California Law Enforcement ALPR FAQ |website=NCRIC |date=2021 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219214745/https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Mountain View Findings===

The Mountain View Police Department became aware in early January in 2026 during a department-initiated audit that for a brief period in 2024 federal agencies accessed data from the first camera in operation in the city.

“During the prior federal administration, from August to November 2024, several federal law enforcement agencies accessed Mountain View’s Flock Safety ALPR system for one camera via a 'nationwide' search setting that was turned on by Flock Safety. This setting was enabled without MVPD’s permission or knowledge. The federal agencies that accessed the one camera’s data include Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offices in Kentucky and Nashville, TN; Langley Air Force Base in Virginia; the U.S. GSA Office of Inspector General; Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada; and an Ohio Air Force Base. Flock Safety did not retain records for that time period, which means the vendor cannot determine whether searches of Mountain View’s data resulted in license plate information being shared.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-30 |title=City Statement {{!}} City News {{!}} Mountain View, CA |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1203/284 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.md/CDZ2Y |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=mountainview.gov}}</ref>

MVPD officers also uncovered that “statewide lookup” had been turned on for all the city’s cameras since the program began. This feature has been turned off by the department on January 5, 2026. The MVPD plans to present a review of the ALPR pilot program to the City Council.

On February 2, 2026 Mountain View Police Chief Mike Canfield announced that all of the city's license plate cameras are being disabled, effective immediately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Margaretten |first=Emily |last2=Morgan |first2=Zoe |date=2026-01-30 |title=Mountain View discovers unauthorized access to license plate data |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/police/2026/01/30/amid-immigration-crackdown-mountain-view-discovers-unauthorized-access-to-license-plate-data/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220813/https://www.mv-voice.com/police/2026/01/30/amid-immigration-crackdown-mountain-view-discovers-unauthorized-access-to-license-plate-data/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Mountain View Voice}}</ref>

==Camera locations==
The locations of many Flock Cameras have been mapped by the OpenStreetMap project. A viewer of the locations of these cameras is located here: [https://deflock.me/map ALPR Map | DeFlock]

====Cease and desist to DeFlock.me====
DeFlock.org (formally DeFlock.me) is a website allowing users to log and view the locations of ALPRs, such as Flock products. On 30 January 2025, Flock sent a cease and desist notice to the owner of DeFlock demanding the name of the website be changed to exclude the company's brand name. The letter also stated that "the Website also implies that various license plate readers are vulnerable to security hacks [...]" which Flock alleged "[...] provides a false impression about the security of Flock Products."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matz |first=Sarah M. |title=2025 01 31 DEFLOCK CD final |url=https://www.eff.org/files/2025/02/26/2025_01_31_deflock_cd_ex-3.pdf |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=27 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251020035804/https://www.eff.org/files/2025/02/26/2025_01_31_deflock_cd_ex-3.pdf |archive-date=20 Oct 2025}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://deflock.me/ DeFlock live map of active ALPRs]
*[https://www.noalprs.org/ No ALPRS movement in United States]
*[https://plateprivacy.com/ The Plate Privacy Project]
*[https://eyesonflock.com/ Eyes On Flock]
*[https://wiki.alprwatch.org/index.php/Main_Page ALPR Watch Wiki]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Automatic license plate readers]]
[[Category:Flock Safety]]

Flock license plate readers

2026-05-05T23:50:11Z

Neige: DeFlock.me is now DeFlock.org

{{ProductCargo
|Company=Flock Safety
|ProductLine=Flock Safety Falcon
|ReleaseYear=2017
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Cameras, Security, Surveillance
|Logo=Flock License plate readers (LPR).png
|Website=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers
|Description=AI-powered automated license plate reader (ALPR) system that creates "Vehicle Fingerprints" by recording license plates, vehicle characteristics, and movement patterns for law enforcement use without individual consent or warrants.
}}
'''Flock License Plate Readers''' (previously known as '''Flock Safety Falcon'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/devices/falcon|title=Falcon|work=Flock Safety |access-date=6 Dec 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222220315/https://www.flocksafety.com/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|url-status=usurped}}</ref>), are a network of AI-powered surveillance cameras that record vehicle data for law enforcement agencies. The system operates in over 5,000 communities across 49 states in the U.S.A.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Sarah |last2=Alajaji |first2=Rindala |date=27 Jun 2025 |title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628052030/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |archive-date=28 Jun 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref> According to the company's own marketing materials, Flock performs over 20 billion vehicle scans monthly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/iVsBZ |archive-date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
====Freedom====
Residents and taxpayers have no mechanism to opt out of [[Flock Safety]]'s surveillance network. The cameras operate 24/7 in public spaces, recording all passing vehicles regardless of consent. They are also placed on private premises like universities, hospitals, businesses, and neighborhood associations, which often share this data with law enforcement.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |date=19 Jun 2024 |title=FedEx's Secretive Police Force Is Helping Cops Build An AI Car Surveillance Network |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619112629/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |archive-date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=25 Aug 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref> This data can later be integrated into predictive police platforms like {{Wplink|Palantir Technologies|Palantir}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rettberg |first=Jill Walker |title=Machine Vision: How Algorithms are Changing the Way We See the World |date=11 Sep 2023 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons. |year=2023 |location=Google Books |pages=45-46 |language=English}}</ref>

Unlike traditional security cameras that may be avoided by choosing different routes, Flock's expanding network of over 100,000 cameras makes avoidance increasingly difficult.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eyes On Flock |url=https://eyesonflock.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008230140/https://eyesonflock.com/ |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=9 Dec 2025 |work=Eyes On Flock}}</ref> The system uses AI to create ''"Vehicle [[Device fingerprint|Fingerprints]]"'' that identify vehicles by characteristics beyond license plates, including make, model, color, aftermarket parts, window stickers, and roof racks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |date=23 Jul 2025 |title=Surveillance Company Flock Now Using AI to Report Us to Police if it Thinks Our Movement Patterns Are "Suspicious" |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/national-security/surveillance-company-flock-now-using-ai-to-report-us-to-police-if-it-thinks-our-movement-patterns-are-suspicious |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814053755/https://www.aclu.org/news/national-security/surveillance-company-flock-now-using-ai-to-report-us-to-police-if-it-thinks-our-movement-patterns-are-suspicious |archive-date=14 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=American Civil Liberties Union}}</ref>

====Privacy====
While Flock Safety claims their system doesn't violate Fourth Amendment rights because ''"license plates are not personal information,"''<ref name="Flock-PE">{{Cite web |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/privacy-ethics |title=Privacy & Ethics |work=Flock Safety |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222220436/https://www.flocksafety.com/privacy-ethics |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> federal courts have challenged this interpretation. In February 2024, a federal judge ruled that a lawsuit challenging Norfolk, Virginia's use of 172 Flock cameras could proceed, finding that plaintiffs had plausibly alleged the system creates a ''"detailed chronicle of a person's physical presence compiled every day."''<ref name="norfolk">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Dan |date=6 Feb 2024 |title=Judge Rules Lawsuit Challenging Norfolk's Use of Flock Cameras Can Proceed |url=https://ij.org/press-release/judge-rules-lawsuit-challenging-norfolks-use-of-flock-cameras-can-proceed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250717001536/https://ij.org/press-release/judge-rules-lawsuit-challenging-norfolks-use-of-flock-cameras-can-proceed/ |archive-date=17 Jul 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Institute for Justice}}</ref>

Data collected includes location history that can reveal sensitive information about medical visits, religious attendance, political activities, and personal associations. While Flock states data is deleted after 30 days, contracts grant them ''"perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license"'' to use anonymized data indefinitely.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/terms-and-conditions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222220541/https://www.flocksafety.com/legal/terms-and-conditions |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref> The system shares data across a network of over 4,800 law enforcement agencies nationally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=2024 |title=Lawsuit Argues Warrantless Use of Flock Surveillance Cameras Is Unconstitutional |url=https://www.404media.co/lawsuit-argues-warrantless-use-of-flock-surveillance-cameras-is-unconstitutional/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826013458/https://www.404media.co/lawsuit-argues-warrantless-use-of-flock-surveillance-cameras-is-unconstitutional/ |archive-date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=404 Media}}</ref>

====="Anonymized Data"=====
While Flock's Terms and Conditions define "Anonymized Data" as customer data that is ''"permanently stripped of identifying details and any potential personally identifiable information"'' and is rendered so that a person or entity ''"can no longer be identified directly or indirectly,"'' this definition includes information such as vehicle make, model, color, location patterns, and other non–license-plate attributes.<ref name=":1" />

Privacy researchers caution that mobility datasets labeled as "anonymized" can still be re-identified. A 2013 MIT study found that just four spatio-temporal points uniquely identified 95% of individuals in an anonymized location dataset.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=de Montjoye |first=Y.-A. |last2=Hidalgo |first2=C. A. |last3=Verleysen |first3=M. |last4=Blondel |first4=V. D. |year=2013 |title=Unique in the Crowd: The privacy bounds of human mobility |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01376 |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=3 |pages=1376 |doi=10.1038/srep01376 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220062804/https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01376 |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> Multiple peer-reviewed studies from 2018-2024 demonstrate that "anonymized" vehicle location data can be re-identified with high accuracy. A 2022 study showed researchers could re-identify drivers from raw vehicle network data with 97% accuracy by exploiting inter-dependencies in sensor measurements.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167404822002139 |title=Privacy-preserving vehicle trajectory matching |website=ScienceDirect |date=2022 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240415115116/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167404822002139 |archive-date=15 Apr 2024}}</ref> Research published in the Journal of Computer Science and Technology (2022) found that even three to four location points can uniquely identify individuals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sun |first=She |last2=Ma |first2=Shuai |last3=Song |first3=Jing-He |last4=Yue |first4=Wen-Hai |last5=Lin |first5=Xue-Lian |last6=Ma |first6=Tiejun |date=2022 |title=Experiments and Analyses of Anonymization Mechanisms for Trajectory Data Publishing |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11390-022-2409-x |journal=Journal of Computer Science and Technology |doi=10.1007/s11390-022-2409-x |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240804052830/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11390-022-2409-x |archive-date=4 Aug 2024}}</ref>

====Business model====
Flock operates on a subscription model charging municipalities and law enforcement agencies $2,500 USD per camera annually plus installation costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://campbellca.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=279 |title=How much does a Flock Safety camera cost? |work=City of Campbell |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251001015154/https://campbellca.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=279 |archive-date=1 Oct 2025}}</ref> Private businesses including Home Depot, Lowe's, and FedEx also deploy cameras, sharing data with law enforcement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |title=Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops |first=Jason |last=Koebler |date=6 Aug 2025 |work=404 Media |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823135847/https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |archive-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Contracts include automatic renewal clauses and limit municipal oversight capabilities, with cities unable to audit system operations or control how other agencies use shared data.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/flock_1.pdf |title=How to Pump the Brakes on Your Police Department's Use of Flock's Mass Surveillance License Plate Readers |work=American Civil Liberties Union |date=2024 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126201758/https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/flock_1.pdf |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

====Market control====
Flock Safety has rapidly expanded to become a dominant force in automated license plate recognition, operating in 49 states with over 40,000 cameras deployed. The company's network effect creates pressure for additional jurisdictions to join, as law enforcement effectiveness depends on network coverage. Several states have begun restricting access following privacy violations, with California, Illinois, and New York limiting data sharing after immigration and abortion-related tracking incidents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.michaelrcronin.com/post/flock-blocks-ice-from-license-plate-reader-access-in-several-states |title='Flock' Blocks ICE from License Plate Reader Access in Several States |work=Yes You Can Go |date=2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062510/https://www.michaelrcronin.com/post/flock-blocks-ice-from-license-plate-reader-access-in-several-states |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Premise of a "license plate camera"===
While marketed as "license plate readers,"' Flock cameras use what the company calls "Vehicle Fingerprint" technology which tracks vehicles using characteristics beyond just license plates. The system catalogs vehicles based on numerous distinguishing features including make, model, color, bumper stickers, dents, damage patterns, roof racks, aftermarket modifications such as wheels or spoilers, window stickers, and even mismatching paint colors.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date= |title=LPR Cameras |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers |url-status=usurped |access-date=26 Oct 2025 |work=Flock Safety |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045242/https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>. According to Flock's own marketing materials, the system can identify vehicles even when license plates cannot be captured, advertised as turning "images into actionable evidence — no plate required."<ref>{{Cite web |title=License Plate Readers |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222220218/https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Flock Safety}}</ref>

Flock claims this capability is ''"unique among ALPR systems"'' and allows law enforcement to search for vehicles based on these characteristics even without a visible license plate.

This technology changes the nature of the surveillance from license plate reading to comprehensive vehicle tracking. A person could still be tracked by the unique combination of their vehicle's physical characteristics. The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that these ''"vehicle fingerprints"'' could flag vehicles based on political bumper stickers, revealing ''"information on the political or social views of the driver,"'' or economic indicators like rust or damage, potentially "endangering anyone who might not feel the need (or have the income required) to keep their car in perfect shape."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-14 |title=Things to Know Before Your Neighborhood Installs an Automated License Plate Reader |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/flock-license-plate-reader-homeowners-association-safe-problems |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Electronic Frontier Foundation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221033709/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/flock-license-plate-reader-homeowners-association-safe-problems |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Privacy advocates note that this expanded tracking capability makes the term ''"license plate reader"'' misleading, as Flock systems create detailed vehicle profiles that persist even without readable plates. It turns any distinguishing feature of a vehicle into a tracking identifier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Flock |url=https://www.stopflock.com/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Stop Flock |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251222060644/https://stopflock.com/ |archive-date=22 Dec 2025}}</ref>

==Patent for person identification by race and physical characteristics==
A U.S. Patent granted to Flock Group Inc. in August 2022 reveals the company has developed and patented technology to identify and classify people based on race, gender, and other physical characteristics.<ref name="patent11416545">{{Cite web |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/77/9a/03/7b3b26499077d4/US11416545.pdf |title=System and Method for Object Based Query of Video Content Captured by a Dynamic Surveillance Network |website=United States Patent and Trademark Office |date=16 Aug 2022 |access-date=21 Jan 2025 |format=PDF |first1=Garrett |last1=Langley |first2=Matt |last2=Feury  |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260202115638/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/77/9a/03/7b3b26499077d4/US11416545.pdf |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref> Patent US 11,416,545 B1 describes a system that goes beyond vehicle identification to analyze human subjects captured in surveillance footage.

According to the patent documentation, when the system identifies a human being in captured footage, it uses neural network modules specifically configured to classify people by "male, female, race, etc." The patent further describes using additional neural networks to identify clothing types, estimate height and weight, and other physical characteristics of individuals.<ref name="patent11416545" /> The system can then store this classification data in searchable databases, allowing law enforcement to query for people based on these physical attributes.

The patent shows that Flock's technology is designed to create comprehensive profiles that can track individuals across multiple camera locations by matching physical characteristics. While Flock publicly markets its products as ''"license plate readers"'' focused on vehicles, this patent demonstrates the company has developed capabilities for detailed human surveillance and classification by protected characteristics including race and gender.<ref name="patent11416545" />

Privacy and civil-liberties advocates have warned that biometric/appearance-based identification and classification—especially along race and gender lines—can enable discriminatory policing and amplify harms from demographic bias and misidentification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How is Face Recognition Surveillance Technology Racist? |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=2020-06-16 |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/how-is-face-recognition-surveillance-technology-racist |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045330/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/how-is-face-recognition-surveillance-technology-racist |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NIST Study Evaluates Effects of Race, Age, Sex on Face Recognition Software |website=National Institute of Standards and Technology |date=2019-12-19 |url=https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2019/12/nist-study-evaluates-effects-race-age-sex-face-recognition-software |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213231602/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2019/12/nist-study-evaluates-effects-race-age-sex-face-recognition-software |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> In that context, the Flock Group patent’s explicit discussion of classifying people by attributes including “race” and “male/female” suggests capabilities that extend beyond vehicle identification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US11416545B1 - System and method for object based query of video content captured by a dynamic surveillance network |website=Google Patents |date=2022-08-16 |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US11416545B1 |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204132539/https://patents.google.com/patent/US11416545B1 |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Legal challenges==

===Washington state judge declares Flock footage as public records ''(6 Nov 2025)''===
An Oregon resident filed public records requests at various police departments in the state of Washington regarding information collected from Flock cameras. The cities of Stanwood and Sedro-Woolley filed a motion to reject the resident's request, with their attorney stating that publicizing Flock footage may be a violation of privacy that could lead to stalking.

Some exemptions are given to deny public records request, particularly due to investigations. However, the judge dismissed the motion, declaring that the camera footage was "so broad and indiscriminate" with no distinction between criminal activity and casual civilian activity that the data had to be released to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingalls |first=Chris |date=6 Nov 2025 |title=Judge orders police to release surveillance camera data, raising privacy questions |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/investigations/investigators/judge-orders-washington-police-release-surveillance-camera-data-privacy-questions/281-c2037d52-6afb-4bf7-95ad-0eceaf477864 |access-date=8 Nov 2025 |website=KING5 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251110233248/https://www.king5.com/article/news/investigations/investigators/judge-orders-washington-police-release-surveillance-camera-data-privacy-questions/281-c2037d52-6afb-4bf7-95ad-0eceaf477864 |archive-date=10 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenna |date=6 Nov 2025 |title=Judge denies request to exempt Flock footage from Public Records Act |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/judge-denies-request-to-exempt-flock-footage-from-public-records-act/ |access-date=8 Nov 2025 |website=Herald Net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251226145253/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/judge-denies-request-to-exempt-flock-footage-from-public-records-act/ |archive-date=26 Dec 2025}}</ref>

The judge stated:<ref name=":5" /><blockquote>“I do think that the information at stake does have serious privacy implications, but that’s not the analysis for the intelligence information exemption,” she said. “You also have to make a finding that this is specific intelligence information that is compiled by investigative or law enforcement agencies, and the information that’s being compiled here does not relate to a specific case or investigation. The public already knows that these cameras exist and are operated. Many of them are in sight. The information does not disclose particular methods or procedures for gathering or evaluating intelligence information.” </blockquote>

===Norfolk federal lawsuit ''(February 2025)''===
In February 2025, Chief Judge Mark S. Davis of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia denied Norfolk's motion to dismiss a landmark Fourth Amendment lawsuit. The case involves two residents whose vehicles were tracked 526 times in 4.5 months and 849 times over the same period, figures revealed in a September 2025 court filing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399|title=Virginia police used Flock cameras to track driver 526 times in 4 months, lawsuit says|work=NBC News|date=2025-09-18|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002237/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> Norfolk installed 172 Flock Safety cameras in 2023 at a cost of $430,000-$516,000 annually. Police Chief Mark Talbot stated the goal was making it ''"difficult to drive anywhere of any distance without running into a camera somewhere."''<ref name="norfolk" />

Judge Davis's ruling relied on ''Carpenter v. United States'', the 2018 Supreme Court decision requiring warrants for historical cell phone location data. The court found Norfolk's ALPR network "notably similar" to the surveillance the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional. However, courts remain divided. In November 2024, Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne in the same district denied a motion to suppress Flock evidence, holding that three vehicle snapshots don't constitute "persistent surveillance" requiring a warrant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://valawyersweekly.com/2024/11/11/mosaic-theory-rejected-flock-camera-evidence-does-not-violate-fourth-amendment/|title='Mosaic theory' rejected: Flock camera evidence does not violate Fourth Amendment|website=Virginia Lawyers Weekly|date=2024-11-11|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208113511/https://valawyersweekly.com/2024/11/11/mosaic-theory-rejected-flock-camera-evidence-does-not-violate-fourth-amendment/ |archive-date=8 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Virginia state courts show similar disagreement. Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Jamilah LeCruise granted a suppression motion in May 2024, finding that the breadth of Flock cameras covering Norfolk requires a warrant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/virginia-judge-rejects-alpr-evidence-without-warrant|title=Virginia Judge Rejects ALPR Evidence Without Warrant|website=Government Technology|date=2024-05-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213050025/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/virginia-judge-rejects-alpr-evidence-without-warrant |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> Yet three other Norfolk circuit court judges denied similar motions in 2024.

===State regulatory landscape===
Only 16 states have enacted any form of ALPR regulation as of 2024 according to University of Michigan research.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse|title=Automated License Plate Readers widely used, subject to abuse|website=University of Michigan|date=2023|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205112852/https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref> Virginia enacted House Bill 2724 in 2025 creating annual reporting requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vscc.virginia.gov/Annual%20Reports/2024%20VSCC%20Annual%20Report%20-Law%20Enforcement%20Use%20of%20ALPR.pdf|title=2024 VSCC Annual Report - Law Enforcement Use of ALPR|website=Virginia State Crime Commission|date=2024|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207225650/https://vscc.virginia.gov/Annual%20Reports/2024%20VSCC%20Annual%20Report%20-Law%20Enforcement%20Use%20of%20ALPR.pdf |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref> Illinois Public Act 103-0540 explicitly prohibits use for reproductive healthcare punishment and immigration investigations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/103/103-0540.htm|title=Public Act 103-0540|website=Illinois General Assembly|date=2024|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250223092503/https://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/103/103-0540.htm |archive-date=23 Feb 2025}}</ref>

Illinois prohibits law enforcement agencies from sharing ALPR data with other jurisdictions in relation to a person's immigration status.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public Act 103-0540 |url=https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/publicacts/103/PDF/103-0540.pdf |url-status=usurped |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=Illinois General Assembly |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251031232338/https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/publicacts/103/PDF/103-0540.pdf |archive-date=31 Oct 2025}}</ref> New Hampshire requires a three-minute purge of data from ALPR use with the exception of ongoing investigations. <ref>{{Cite web |title=261:75-b Use of Number Plate Scanning Devices Regulated. |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/title-xxi/chapter-261/section-261-75-b/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=New Hampshire General Court}}</ref>

California’s SB 34 requires public agencies using ALPR systems to implement usage and privacy policies as well as limits to data sharing. <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB34 |title=SB-34 Automated license plate recognition systems: use of data |work=California Legislative Information |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220181318/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB34 |archive-date=20 Dec 2025}}</ref> However, enforcement remains inconsistent, with a 2020 state audit finding widespread non-compliance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/index.html |title=Automated License Plate Readers |work=California State Auditor |date=13 Feb 2020 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230930215217/https://auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/index.html |archive-date=30 Sep 2023}}</ref>

==Notable incidents==

====Illinois audit findings (2024-2025)====
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced in late August 2024 that Flock Safety violated state law by allowing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to access Illinois license plate data for immigration enforcement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safetys-response-to-illinois-lpr-data-use-and-out-of-state-sharing-concerns|title=Flock Safety's Response to Illinois LPR Data Use and Out-of-State Sharing Concerns|website=Flock Safety|date=2024-08-25|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045435/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safetys-response-to-illinois-lpr-data-use-and-out-of-state-sharing-concerns |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> The audit of 12 local law enforcement agencies revealed unauthorized pilot programs with CBP and Homeland Security Investigations, violating Illinois law prohibiting data sharing for immigration enforcement, gender-affirming care investigations, and abortion-related matters. Following the audit, 47 out-of-state agencies were removed from access to Illinois data.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/biz/flock-pledges-changes-after-illinois-data-sharing-accusation|title=Flock Pledges Changes After Illinois Data-Sharing Accusation|website=Government Technology|date=2024-08-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002252/https://www.govtech.com/biz/flock-pledges-changes-after-illinois-data-sharing-accusation |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mount Prospect, Illinois reported 262 immigration-related license plate reader searches in just the first few months of 2025. A Palos Heights detective shared Flock login credentials with a DEA agent who conducted 28 unauthorized searches of Oak Park ALPR data explicitly labeled "immigration violation."<ref name="dea">{{Cite web|url=https://unraveledpress.com/a-dea-agent-used-an-illinois-police-officers-flock-license-plate-reader-password-for-unauthorized-immigration-enforcement-searches/|title=DEA agent used Illinois cop's Flock license plate reader password for immigration enforcement searches|work=Unraveled Press|date=2025|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218115628/https://unraveledpress.com/a-dea-agent-used-an-illinois-police-officers-flock-license-plate-reader-password-for-unauthorized-immigration-enforcement-searches/ |archive-date=18 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====California violations (2015-2025)====
California passed Senate Bill 34<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_201520160sb34|title=Senate Bill 34|access-date=2025-08-27 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114051856/https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_201520160sb34 |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref> in 2015 to limit how California police departments can use and share data collected from these cameras with other state's and federal law enforcement agencies. These limits have been found to be violated on several occasions with little enforcement or consequences for the misusing departments<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sfstandard.com/2025/07/23/california-police-sharing-flock-license-plate-data/|access-date=2025-08-27|title=California cops are breaking surveillance laws|website=San Francisco Standard|date=2025-07-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118202113/https://sfstandard.com/2025/07/23/california-police-sharing-flock-license-plate-data/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref>.

A 2023 EFF investigation found 71 California police agencies in 22 counties illegally shared data with out-of-state law enforcement. San Francisco Police Department alone allowed 1.6 million illegal searches by out-of-state agencies from 2024-2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/08/sfpd-flock-alpr-ice-data-sharing/|title=SFPD let Georgia, Texas cops illegally search city surveillance data on behalf of ICE|website=San Francisco Standard|date=2025-09-08|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118202113/https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/08/sfpd-flock-alpr-ice-data-sharing/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref> The California Attorney General filed the first enforcement action against the City of El Cajon in 2025 for sharing with 26 states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-sues-el-cajon-illegally-sharing-license-plate-data-out|title=Attorney General Bonta Sues El Cajon for Illegally Sharing License Plate Data|website=California DOJ|date=2025|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219035817/https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-sues-el-cajon-illegally-sharing-license-plate-data-out |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===False positive incidents===

====Families detained at gunpoint====
In Española, New Mexico, 21-year-old Jaclynn Gonzales and her 12-year-old sister were held at gunpoint and handcuffed after Flock's system mistook a "2" for a "7" on their license plate, falsely flagging their vehicle as stolen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-28 |title=License plate cover leads to traffic stop mishap |url=https://www.koat.com/article/espanola-police-license-plate-stolen-cover-traffic-stop/45361740|website=KOAT|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203063901/https://www.koat.com/article/espanola-police-license-plate-stolen-cover-traffic-stop/45361740 |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Flock Safety: Eroding Your Privacy & Keeping You Safe with Surveillance |url=https://redact.dev/blog/flock-safety-lpr-privacy-surveillance/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Redact |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045516/https://redact.dev/blog/flock-safety-lpr-privacy-surveillance/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

ALPR systems often misread license plates according to multiple investigations, leading to hardship & legal trouble for innocent civilians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/11/human-toll-alpr-errors|title=The Human Toll of ALPR Errors|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=2024-11-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217071819/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/11/human-toll-alpr-errors |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref>

===Law enforcement stalking incidents===

In October 2022, Kechi, Kansas Police Lieutenant Victor Heiar was arrested and later pleaded guilty to computer crimes and stalking after using Flock cameras to track his estranged wife's movements over four months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/|title=Kechi police lieutenant arrested for using police technology to stalk wife|work=KWCH|date=2022-10-31|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216093439/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> In a separate Kansas incident, Sedgwick Police Chief Lee Nygaard accessed Flock data 164 times to track his ex-girlfriend before resigning after admitting to the misuse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html|title=Kansas police chief used Flock license plate cameras 164 times to track ex-girlfriend|work=Yahoo News|date=2025|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124143444/https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Multiple other documented cases include Las Vegas Metro Officer Christopher Young arrested in December 2023 for stalking his ex-fiancée using police databases, and Riverside County Deputy Eric Piscatella pleading guilty in February 2024 to seven counts of misusing sheriff's department databases to stalk a woman he met at Coachella.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/?outputType=amp|title=Las Vegas police officer arrested for reportedly stalking ex-fiancée|website=FOX5 Vegas|date=2024-02-16|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213030246/https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/?outputType=amp |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Abortion and reproductive healthcare tracking===
In May 2025, Johnson County, Texas sheriff's deputies used Flock's network to track a woman suspected of self-managing an abortion. They conducted searches across 83,000+ Flock cameras nationwide with the explicit reason: "had an abortion, search for female." The search accessed cameras across multiple states including those where abortion is legal. The incident led Illinois officials to investigate and subsequently block 47+ out-of-state agencies from accessing Illinois ALPR data.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2025/06/13/after-finding-fetal-remains-north-texas-cops-used-camera-network-to-search-for-woman/|title=After finding fetal remains, North Texas cops used camera network to search for woman|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=2025-06-13|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045557/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2025/06/13/after-finding-fetal-remains-north-texas-cops-used-camera-network-to-search-for-woman/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/05/she-got-abortion-so-texas-cop-used-83000-cameras-track-her-down|title=She Got an Abortion. So A Texas Cop Used 83,000 Cameras to Track Her Down|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=2025-05-15|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260125222243/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/05/she-got-abortion-so-texas-cop-used-83000-cameras-track-her-down |archive-date=25 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Investigations and court records show that some law enforcement officers have misused Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems for personal, non-investigative purposes, including stalking romantic partners or monitoring civilians. These incidents highlight weaknesses & lack of internal oversight, & the reliance on post-hoc audits rather than real-time safeguards.

In Menasha, Wisconsin, police officer Cristian Morales was charged in January 2026 with misconduct in office after allegedly using the department’s Flock ALPR system to track his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors alleged Morales conducted five unauthorized searches of his ex-partner’s vehicle in October 2025. According to the criminal complaint, Morales admitted he knew the searches were improper and cited “desperation and bad judgment.” He was placed on administrative leave, prohibited from accessing Flock systems, and released on a $10,000 cash bond pending further proceedings. Court records also show a related civil filing seeking a temporary restraining order in a domestic abuse case.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kerhin |first=Brian |date=2026-01-09 |title=Menasha police officer accused of using license plate recognition system to track his ex |url=https://fox11online.com/news/crime/menasha-police-officer-accused-of-using-license-plate-recognition-system-to-track-his-ex |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/V8GGF |archive-date=13 January 2026 |work=FOX 11 News}}</ref>

The Menasha case matches what is becoming a national pattern. In Kansas, Kechi Police Lieutenant Victor Heiar pleaded guilty in 2022 to computer crimes & stalking after using Flock cameras to monitor his estranged wife’s movements over several months.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Joe |date=2022-10-31 |title=Kechi police lieutenant arrested for using police technology to stalk wife |url=https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216093439/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026 |work=KWCH}}</ref> In another Kansas incident, Sedgwick Police Chief Lee Nygaard admitted in 2025 to accessing Flock ALPR data more than 160 times to track his ex-girlfriend and her new partner, resulting in his resignation and loss of police certification.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stavola |first=Michael |date=August 17, 2024 |title=Kansas police chief used Flock license plate cameras to track ex-girlfriend |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124143444/https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-police-chief-used-flock-093300946.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026 |work=Yahoo News}}</ref>

More cases involving other surveillance systems show a similar misuse. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer Christopher Young was arrested in 2023 for stalking his ex-fiancée using police databases, and in California, Riverside County deputy Eric Piscatella pleaded guilty in 2024 to multiple counts of misusing sheriff’s department databases to stalk a woman he met while off duty.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCandless |first=C.C. |date=2024-02-16 |title=Las Vegas police officer arrested for reportedly stalking ex-fiancée |url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240907035401/https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/16/las-vegas-police-officer-arrested-reportedly-stalking-ex-fiancee/ |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |work=FOX5 Vegas}}</ref>

Oversight reviews & civil liberties organizations have noted that ALPR systems enable quick searches of historical vehicle location data across wide geographic areas. This reduces practical barriers to stalking & increases the risk of abuse by authorized users. While Flock & participating agencies rely on usage policies & access logs, many cases show misuse was detected only after complaints or later audits rather than through proactive safeguards.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 22, 2023 |title=Automated License Plate Readers widely used, subject to abuse |url=https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205112852/https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/news/2023/automated-license-plate-readers-widely-used-subject-abuse |archive-date=5 Feb 2026 |work=University of Michigan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Davidson |first=Nikki |date=April 16, 2024 |title=ALPR Audit Takeaways: What We Learned About Policy Gaps |url=https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251226002217/https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-date=26 Dec 2025 |work=Government Technology}}</ref>

===Federal agency access===
Immigration and Customs Enforcement maintains a $6.1 million contract giving 9,000+ ICE officers access to the Vigilant Solutions ALPR database containing over 5 billion location data points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/documents-reveal-ice-using-driver-location-data|title=Documents Reveal ICE Using Driver Location Data From Local Police for Deportations|website=ACLU|date=2024|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220150454/https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/documents-reveal-ice-using-driver-location-data |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> The Drug Enforcement Administration operates a National License Plate Reader Program with over 10,000 license plate readers shared throughout the United States. 404 Media revealed over 4,000 searches by local and state police for federal immigration enforcement purposes, despite Flock having no formal ICE contract.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |date=2025 |title=ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows |url=https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |url-access=registration |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=404 Media}}</ref> A DEA agent was found using an Illinois police officer's credentials to conduct unauthorized immigration searches.<ref name="dea" />

===Illegal Camera Installations===
In South Carolina, Flock installed over 200 cameras without authorization, leading to a statewide moratorium on new installations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferrara |first=David |date=2024-03-11 |title=A company installed license plate cameras without permission. SC agency wants clear rules |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/alpr-cameras-south-carolina-flock-safety-license-plate-readers/article_787a262a-dbd2-11ee-a901-634acead588b.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=The Post and Courier |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212144432/https://www.postandcourier.com/news/alpr-cameras-south-carolina-flock-safety-license-plate-readers/article_787a262a-dbd2-11ee-a901-634acead588b.html |archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref>

In Illinois, a Flock representative allegedly threatened a Department of Transportation official with police pressure when questioned about permit applications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Uprise RI Staff |date=2024-10-23 |title=As Flock Surveillance Cameras Proliferate in Rhode Island, Lawsuit Challenges Their Legality |url=https://upriseri.com/as-flock-surveillance-cameras-proliferate-in-rhode-island-lawsuit-challenges-their-legality/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=UPRISE RI |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241101064737/https://upriseri.com/as-flock-surveillance-cameras-proliferate-in-rhode-island-lawsuit-challenges-their-legality/ |archive-date=1 Nov 2024}}</ref>

====='''Evanston, IL'''=====
Flock was ordered to remove 18 stationary cameras. The city put the contract with Flock on a 30-day termination notice on August 26. Flock Initially appeared to comply, removing 15 of the cameras by September 8. Later, Flock was caught reinstalling all of them by the following Tuesday without authorization from the city. The city of Evanston responded with a cease-and-desist order for Flock to remove the new and unauthorized camera equipment. Because Flock reinstalled the cameras without permission, Evanston was forced to cover the cameras with tape and bags to block them from potentially logging vehicle data.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Alex |date=2025-09-25 |title=City covers Flock cameras while waiting for removal |url=https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/09/25/city-covers-up-flock-cameras-while-waiting-for-removal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002233/https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/09/25/city-covers-up-flock-cameras-while-waiting-for-removal/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-10 |website=Evanston Roundtable}}</ref>

===City rejections and terminations===

Multiple cities have rejected or terminated Flock contracts following privacy concerns and effectiveness issues:

'''0.2% effectiveness rate, low arrests:''' Austin, Texas terminated its contract in July 2025 after an audit revealed "systematic compliance failures" and only 165 arrests from 113 million license plate scans (0.146% effectiveness rate).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/flock-ceo-responds-to-austin-backlash-as-city-contract-nears-expiration|title=Flock CEO responds to Austin backlash as city contract nears expiration|work=CBS Austin|date=2025-06-21|access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216120645/https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/flock-ceo-responds-to-austin-backlash-as-city-contract-nears-expiration |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Denver City Council unanimously rejected a $666,000 contract extension in May 2025 following revelations of 1,400+ ICE-related searches in Colorado data.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zialcita |first=Paolo |last2=Harris |first2=Kyle |date=2025-05-05 |title=Denver rejects $666,000 extension for license-plate surveillance cameras after backlash |url=https://denverite.com/2025/05/05/denver-rejects-flock-camera-license-plate-readers/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216120658/https://denverite.com/2025/05/05/denver-rejects-flock-camera-license-plate-readers/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Denverite}}</ref>

San Marcos, Texas voted 5-2 to deny camera expansion after discovering no required audits had been conducted since 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Velez |first=Abigail |date=2025-06-04 |title=San Marcos City Council votes to deny flock camera expansion after hours of heated debate |url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/san-marcos-city-council-votes-to-deny-flock-camera-expansion-after-hours-of-heated-debate |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=CBS Austin |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122133613/https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/san-marcos-city-council-votes-to-deny-flock-camera-expansion-after-hours-of-heated-debate |archive-date=22 Nov 2025}}</ref>

Oak Park, Illinois terminated their contract entirely following the Illinois investigation into illegal data sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heffernan |first=Brendan |date=2025-08-07 |title=Oak Park terminates Flock license plate reader contract |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2025/08/07/oak-park-terminates-flock-license-plate-reader-contract/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218115622/https://www.oakpark.com/2025/08/07/oak-park-terminates-flock-license-plate-reader-contract/ |archive-date=18 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-08-23 |work=Wednesday Journal}}</ref>

===Arizona deployments===
Sedona, Arizona became the first Arizona city to completely terminate its Flock Safety contract in September 2025 after citizen backlash. The city had installed 11 cameras in June 2025 without prior public notice at a cost of $51,146 for the first year. The council voted 5-1 to pause the program, then unanimously 7-0 on September 9 to permanently terminate after Flock CEO Garrett Langley admitted the company had been sharing data with federal agencies. Vice Mayor Holli Ploog called Flock "not an honorable company" for the conflicting data-sharing claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://westvalleyfamilies.substack.com/p/sedona-pulls-the-plug-on-flock-safety|title=Sedona Pulls the Plug on Flock Safety|website=West Valley Families|date=2025-09-10|access-date=2025-10-05 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209130335/https://westvalleyfamilies.substack.com/p/sedona-pulls-the-plug-on-flock-safety |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Skabelund |first=Adrian |date=2025-09-11 |title=Sedona council permanently ends license plate camera program |url=https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2025-09-11/sedona-council-permanently-ends-license-plate-camera-program |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212215752/https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2025-09-11/sedona-council-permanently-ends-license-plate-camera-program |archive-date=12 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=KNAU}}</ref>

Flagstaff deployed 32 Flock cameras in summer 2024 at a cost of $143,100 annually. By September 2025, a petition signed by 25+ residents demanded cancellation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Marizco |first=Michel |date=2025-09-01 |title=After Sedona paused Flock Safety camera system, Flagstaff is considering the same issue |url=https://www.kjzz.org/fronteras-desk/2025-09-01/after-sedona-paused-flock-safety-camera-system-flagstaff-is-considering-the-same-issue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045803/https://www.kjzz.org/fronteras-desk/2025-09-01/after-sedona-paused-flock-safety-camera-system-flagstaff-is-considering-the-same-issue |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=KJZZ}}</ref>

University of Arizona contracted with Flock in February 2025 for 54 ALPR cameras at $160,000 annually. Students and faculty launched a "Deflock Tucson" campaign citing concerns about tracking international students and potential data sharing with federal immigration authorities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kunichoff |first=Yana |date=2025-09-15 |title=UA students and faculty question use of Flock Safety cameras on campus |url=https://azluminaria.org/2025/09/15/ua-students-and-faculty-question-use-of-flock-safety-cameras-on-campus/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002242/https://azluminaria.org/2025/09/15/ua-students-and-faculty-question-use-of-flock-safety-cameras-on-campus/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=AZ Luminaria}}</ref>

Casa Grande approved a $10 million "Safe City Initiative" in September 2025 including 100 license plate readers. Chief Mark McCrory reported the current 22 license plate readers led to 212 stolen vehicles identified and 168 arrests.<ref>{{cite web |last=Iverson |first=David |date=2025 |title=We mapped the city's Flock cameras |url=https://www.inmaricopa.com/we-mapped-all-flock-cameras/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220002923/https://inmaricopa.com/we-mapped-all-flock-cameras/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=InMaricopa}}</ref>

Despite documented deployments across Arizona including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Surprise, Youngtown, Litchfield Park, and Yuma, the state has no ALPR-specific regulation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grauer |first=Yael |date=2019-07-08 |title=How do automated license plate readers work? |url=https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/how-do-automated-license-plate-readers-work/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114035603/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/how-do-automated-license-plate-readers-work/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=Arizona Mirror}}</ref>

==Security vulnerabilities==
In 2025, Flock Safety reported security vulnerabilities in its devices and submitted them to MITRE for inclusion in the National Vulnerability Database, including issues such as hard-coded credentials and improper access controls.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-05 |title=Gunshot Detection and License Plate Reader Security Alert |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/gunshot-detection-and-license-plate-reader-security-alert |website=Flock Safety |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223045831/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/gunshot-detection-and-license-plate-reader-security-alert |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=CVE-2025-59403 : The Flock Safety Android Collins application (aka com.flocksafety.android.collin |url=https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-59403/ |website=CVEdetails.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207014907/https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-59403/ |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref> Similar security concerns have affected other ALPR systems, including exposure of default passwords and unencrypted data storage.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Quintin |first=Cooper |date=28 Oct 2015 |title=License Plate Readers Exposed! How Public Safety Agencies Responded to Major Vulnerabilities in Vehicle Surveillance Tech |url=https://www.eff.org/ur/deeplinks/2015/10/license-plate-readers-exposed-how-public-safety-agencies-responded-massive |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210130106/https://www.eff.org/ur/deeplinks/2015/10/license-plate-readers-exposed-how-public-safety-agencies-responded-massive |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref>

This represents one of several major security disclosures in the past decade. In 2015, the Electronic Frontier Foundation documented more than 100 ALPR cameras accessible on the open internet, often without passwords or proper configuration.<ref name=":4" /> A more serious documented breach occurred in 2019, when Perceptics, LLC, a subcontractor for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, exposed approximately 105,000 license plate images and 184,000 traveler facial images.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review of CBP's Major Cybersecurity Incident During a 2019 Biometric Pilot |url=https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2020-09/OIG-20-71-Sep20.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260121195004/https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2020-09/OIG-20-71-Sep20.pdf |archive-date=21 Jan 2026}}</ref>

In 2025 it has been discovered that the cameras run [[wikipedia:Android_Oreo|Android 8.0 (Oreo)]] an operating system with 90 security vulnerabilities. The cameras also send data unencrypted and are easily tricked by stingrays. The compute boxes have easily accessible USB-c ports leaving the device vulnerable to rubber duckies. When the power button is pressed in a specific order the device emits a Wi-Fi hotspot that can be used to gain [[wikipedia:Android_Debug_Bridge|ADB]] access.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benn |first=Jordan |date=2025-11-16 |title=We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras in under 30 Seconds. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB0gr7Fh6lY |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=uB0gr7Fh6lY |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Government accountability and oversight==

===State audit findings===
California State Auditor's February 2020 investigation found the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), with a 320 million image database, had no ALPR-specific policy at all. The audit found 96% of agencies claim to have policies, but most are incomplete. Data retention periods varied wildly with no justification. LAPD maintained a minimum five-year retention period, yet couldn't demonstrate that images stored for years had investigative value. The audit found that 99.9% of the 320 million images Los Angeles stores are for vehicles that were not on a "hot list" when the image was made.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/summary.html |title=Automated License Plate Readers |website=California State Auditor |date=13 Feb 2020 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113154443/https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/summary.html |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref>

New Jersey provides a contrasting model with mandatory annual audits of all 523 law enforcement agencies. The 2024 audit reported only two significant violations, both involving users who hadn't completed required training.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=2024 Audit of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Data |url=https://nj.gov/njsp/ALPR/pdf/2024_Audit_Automated_License_Plate_Recognition_(ALPR)_Data_Collected_Utilized_NJ_Law_Enforcement_Agencies.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207224414/https://nj.gov/njsp/ALPR/pdf/2024_Audit_Automated_License_Plate_Recognition_(ALPR)_Data_Collected_Utilized_NJ_Law_Enforcement_Agencies.pdf |archive-date=7 Dec 2025 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |website=New Jersey State Police |format=PDF}}</ref>

A Government Technology analysis found that agencies often fail to audit ALPR systems regularly, leaving them "open to abuse by neglecting to institute sufficient oversight."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Nikki |date=2024 |title=ALPR Audit Takeaways: What We Learned About Policy Gaps |url=https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251226002217/https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/alpr-audit-takeaways-what-we-learned-about-policy-gaps |archive-date=26 Dec 2025 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |website=Government Technology}}</ref>

===Cost-benefit analysis===
Arizona Department of Transportation's 2008 study of generic ALPR technology (predating Flock Safety by nine years) estimated $9.98 million for a hypothetical statewide ALPR system. The projected benefit-to-cost ratio of 9.6:1 came entirely from registration and insurance compliance, not crime reduction.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.azdot.gov/files/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ637.pdf |title=Automated License Plate Recognition Technology Implementation Report |website=Arizona Department of Transportation |date=1 Jun 2008 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208050300/https://apps.azdot.gov/files/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/pdf/az637.pdf |archive-date=8 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Colorado's Office of Research and Statistics reported that while ALPR systems are expanding, independent academic research contradicts vendor claims. A 2011 George Mason University study concluded ALPRs "do not achieve a prevention or deterrent effect" on crime.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/Docs/Briefs/2024-05_InDetail-ALPR.pdf |title=Automated License Plate Readers (In Detail) |website=Colorado Division of Criminal Justice |date=1 May 2024 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212210653/https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/Docs/Briefs/2024-05_InDetail-ALPR.pdf |archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Oakland Police Department reported 182 arrests from ALPR in the first year, representing 1.4% of homicides, robberies, burglaries, and firearm assaults. The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center states approximately 1-2 vehicles out of 1,000 initiate alerts — a hit rate of just 0.1-0.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf |title=California Law Enforcement ALPR FAQ |website=NCRIC |date=2021 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219214745/https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Mountain View Findings===

The Mountain View Police Department became aware in early January in 2026 during a department-initiated audit that for a brief period in 2024 federal agencies accessed data from the first camera in operation in the city.

“During the prior federal administration, from August to November 2024, several federal law enforcement agencies accessed Mountain View’s Flock Safety ALPR system for one camera via a 'nationwide' search setting that was turned on by Flock Safety. This setting was enabled without MVPD’s permission or knowledge. The federal agencies that accessed the one camera’s data include Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offices in Kentucky and Nashville, TN; Langley Air Force Base in Virginia; the U.S. GSA Office of Inspector General; Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada; and an Ohio Air Force Base. Flock Safety did not retain records for that time period, which means the vendor cannot determine whether searches of Mountain View’s data resulted in license plate information being shared.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-30 |title=City Statement {{!}} City News {{!}} Mountain View, CA |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1203/284 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.md/CDZ2Y |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=mountainview.gov}}</ref>

MVPD officers also uncovered that “statewide lookup” had been turned on for all the city’s cameras since the program began. This feature has been turned off by the department on January 5, 2026. The MVPD plans to present a review of the ALPR pilot program to the City Council.

On February 2, 2026 Mountain View Police Chief Mike Canfield announced that all of the city's license plate cameras are being disabled, effective immediately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Margaretten |first=Emily |last2=Morgan |first2=Zoe |date=2026-01-30 |title=Mountain View discovers unauthorized access to license plate data |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/police/2026/01/30/amid-immigration-crackdown-mountain-view-discovers-unauthorized-access-to-license-plate-data/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220813/https://www.mv-voice.com/police/2026/01/30/amid-immigration-crackdown-mountain-view-discovers-unauthorized-access-to-license-plate-data/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Mountain View Voice}}</ref>

==Camera locations==
The locations of many Flock Cameras have been mapped by the OpenStreetMap project. A viewer of the locations of these cameras is located here: [https://deflock.me/map ALPR Map | DeFlock]

====Cease and desist to DeFlock.me====
DeFlock.org (formally DeFlock.me) is a website allowing users to log and view the locations of ALPRs, such as Flock products. On 30 January 2025, Flock sent a cease and desist notice to the owner of DeFlock demanding the name of the website be changed to exclude the company's brand name. The letter also stated that "the Website also implies that various license plate readers are vulnerable to security hacks [...]" which Flock alleged "[...] provides a false impression about the security of Flock Products."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matz |first=Sarah M. |title=2025 01 31 DEFLOCK CD final |url=https://www.eff.org/files/2025/02/26/2025_01_31_deflock_cd_ex-3.pdf |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=27 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251020035804/https://www.eff.org/files/2025/02/26/2025_01_31_deflock_cd_ex-3.pdf |archive-date=20 Oct 2025}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://deflock.me/ DeFlock live map of active ALPRs]
*[https://www.noalprs.org/ No ALPRS movement in United States]
*[https://plateprivacy.com/ The Plate Privacy Project]
*[https://eyesonflock.com/ Eyes On Flock]
*[https://wiki.alprwatch.org/index.php/Main_Page ALPR Watch Wiki]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Automatic license plate readers]]
[[Category:Flock Safety]]

Bosch

2026-05-05T23:21:08Z

Neige: "e-bike" not "E-bike"

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Missing sections|Issue 2=Needs additional references}}{{CompanyCargo
|Description=German engineering company.
|Founded=1886
|Industry=Automotive, Electronics, Technology
|Logo=Bosch.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.bosch.com/
}}
'''{{wplink|Bosch (company)|Robert Bosch GmbH}}''', commonly known as '''Bosch''' (styled '''BOSCH'''), is a German multinational engineering and technology company founded in 1886 by Robert Bosch.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*User Freedom:
*User Privacy:
*Business Model:
*Market Control: Bosch is the largest e-bike motor manufacturer. Bosch and [[Shimano]] combined hold 75% of the European market share and nearly half of the global market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=World Market for Electric Bike Motors: Bosch, Shimano & Bafang Dominate |url=https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116092943/https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=8 April 2026 |website=EBike24}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===E-bike components===
Only the e-bike batteries from Bosch themselves can be used on the modern e-bikes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peace |first=Richard |date=23 Feb 2023 |title=Replacement Electric Bike Batteries Guide |url=https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325202127/https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-date=25 Mar 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Electric Bike Report |quote=Only Bosch manufactured batteries will be used on any new Bosch e-bike – this has always been the case and so it makes advice on interchangeability a little more straightforward than with the likes of Shimano and Brose who have both allowed the use of third party batteries with their mid-drive motor systems.}}</ref>

Many e-bikes, like those of Bosch or [[Shimano]], have their own proprietary systems, making it complicated for third-parties to provide spare parts, which would also void the warranty of the e-bike. [[Right to repair]] legislation would make it easier to provide spare batteries for these e-bikes, which the industry is against by claiming it would be unsafe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grist |last2=Stone |first2=Maddie |date=10 Aug 2023 |title=E-bike companies are fighting to be exempted from right-to-repair laws |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811193642/https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |archive-date=11 Aug 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Fast Company}}</ref>

Bosch and [[Shimano]] place restrictions on consumers from being able to connect lights and other components to their e-bike electrical system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RunBikeMike |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=Installing an EBike Light To Run Off Your Battery / MagicShine ME2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI&t=50s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Special software only accessible to qualified bike shops is required to activate ports or accept new devices. Additional connectivity barriers exist such as difficult to acquire Bosch specific cables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bosch eBike Light Switch Activation |url=https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/products/bosch-ebike-light-activation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708203340/https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/products/bosch-ebike-light-activation |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=EBikeShop.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=15 Mar 2022 |title=Bosch takes the L on right to repair for ebikes |url=https://youtu.be/j7e9hO5yMtk?t=75 |url-status=live |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

===Dishwasher with home connect system===
{{Main|Bosch Cloud Dishwasher Incident}}
The home connect system mandates that users connect their dishwasher to Wi‑Fi and register for a Home Connect account in order to access essential functions—such as rinse cycles, eco mode, and delay start—that were previously available directly via physical controls.{{CitationNeeded|reason=I'm seeing some em's, if it's AI, we're going to need a citation}}

===Washing Machine planned obsolescence===
Recent models now have a sealed drum which prevent replacing the bearing or drum spider independently. Additionally the whole drum assembly replacement is sold at a price making it's replacement prohibitive.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=The Truth About SEALED Drums: Naming & Shaming |url=https://youtu.be/crzZEvFf_L4?si=DkgU7zG2lSyuh8nK&t=50 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=crzZEvFf_L4 |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Refrigerator cameras deactivated===
Bosch announced that cameras in smart fridges would lose their function on March 31st, 2026. The company worded this as ''"adjusting digital features inside the Home-Connect environment"'' ''("die digitalen Funktionen innerhalb der Home-Connect-Umgebung anzupassen")'' and cites low market demand and unspecified technological advancements as the reasons. In 2022, Bosch had already restricted features to analyse the refrigerator content to get tips for ideal placement of items and recipes for using up leftovers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pakalski |first=Ingo |date=2026-02-25 |title=Bosch deaktiviert Innenkameras in verkauften Kühlschränken [Bosch deactivates interior cameras in refrigerators that have already been sold] |url=https://www.golem.de/news/smart-home-bosch-deaktiviert-innenkameras-in-verkauften-kuehlschraenken-2602-205832.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfAGL |archive-date=2026-02-25 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Golem}}</ref>

==Products==

*[[Bosch Spexor]] (2019)
*Bosch 500 series dishwasher
*Bosch Series 4, Series 6 washing machines (check specific model numbers in video description of <ref name=":0" />)
*Bosch GLM 50 C

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Home appliance companies]]

Flock Safety

2026-04-26T03:18:54Z

Neige: More Ghost Archives

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2017
|Industry=Surveillance Technology
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.flocksafety.com,
|Description=Flock Safety is an American surveillance technology company that develops and operates a mass surveillance system combining automated license plate readers (LPRs), video surveillance cameras, gunshot detection, drones, and data analytics platforms used by thousands of law enforcement agencies and private entities across the United States.
|Logo=Flock Safety Logo (2025).svg
}}

'''{{Wplink|Flock Safety}}''' is a technology company that creates and operates an extensive surveillance network using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and related technologies.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=23 Oct 2025 |title=Highlights from Denver's Flock camera town hall – Mayor didn't show up |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Flock was founded in 2017 by Georgia Tech alumni Garrett Langley (CEO), Matt Feury (CTO), and Paige Todd (CPO), beginning as a side project where they built their first surveillance cameras by hand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edmonson |first=Crystal |date=22 Aug 2023 |title=Flock Safety cameras help police amid worker shortage, CEO Garrett Langley says |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/08/22/flock-safety-ceo-garrett-langley-podcast.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}</ref> The company operates on a "surveillance as a service" business model, owning and maintaining camera infrastructure while charging recurring fees to law enforcement agencies, private communities, and businesses for access to its surveillance data and network.<ref name="FlockFunding">{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2025 |title=Accelerating Innovation: Flock Secures $275 Million to Advance Crime-Solving Technology |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-secures-major-funding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/64KcV |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

As of mid-2025, independent reporting and public records indicate the Flock network comprised more than 80,000 AI-enabled cameras nationwide.<ref name="Koebler2025">{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media |date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=29 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Flock's materials state deployments in roughly 5,000 communities, and the company reports the system processes "over 20 billion" vehicle scans per month; these latter two figures are company-provided and should be read as Flock's claims rather than independently verified totals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2025 |title=City Leaders Choose Flock Safety: A Proven, Community-Focused Public Safety Solution |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/city-leaders-choose-flock-safety-a-proven-community-focused-public-safety-solution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mQzuY |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Real-Time Vehicle Leads, Nationwide |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/national-lpr-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mJ8nZ |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date= |title=FlockOS |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-os |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LrSjc |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

The company reported surpassing roughly $300 million in annual recurring revenue. In March 2025, it closed a $275 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, which independent reporting estimated valued the company at about $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hu |first=Krystal |title=US startup Flock Safety raises $275 million to fund manufacturing plant, R&D |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-startup-flock-safety-raises-275-million-fund-manufacturing-plant-rd-2025-03-13/ |website=Reuters |date=13 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/JaV0t |archive-date=13 Mar 2025}}</ref> As of 2025, the company has raised a total of $957.5 million in funding.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=MacBride |first=Elizabeth |title=Flock Safety: 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |website=CNBC |date=10 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612102045/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |archive-date=12 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
===Privacy===
Critics, including civil liberties organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that Flock's mass surveillance network violates privacy rights and represents a form of constant public monitoring that differs fundamentally from traditional, fleeting police observation.<ref name="ACLUStanley">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock's Aggressive Expansions Go Far Beyond Simple Driver Surveillance |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=18 Aug 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819025249/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |archive-date=19 Aug 2025}}</ref> A lawsuit filed in 2024 challenges the constitutionality of warrant-less searches of ALPR databases; courts have split on the issue in different jurisdictions, and rulings continue to be appealed. For example, a federal complaint in ''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (E.D. Va.) alleges repeated location logging by ALPRs, while appellate activity in related Virginia cases continued into 2025. Readers should consult the cited court documents and reporting for further developments.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Collier |first=Kevin |title=Police cameras tracked one driver 526 times in four months, lawsuit says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |website=NBC News |date=18 Sep 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918133508/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=14 Oct 2025 |title=Flock Applauds Virginia Court of Appeals Ruling Affirming Constitutionality of LPR Cameras |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-applauds-virginia-court-of-appeals-ruling-affirming-constitutionality-of-lpr-cameras |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/JbcMV |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The system does not offer a public opt-out mechanism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement |url=https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |website=University of Washington Center for Human Rights
|date=21 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251113234912/https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> This raised concerns about the potential for misuse, profiling, and long-term monitoring of individuals and their associations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Sarah |last2=Alajaji |first2=Rindala |title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=27 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628052030/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |archive-date=28 Jun 2025}}</ref>

Specific privacy violations include:
*Warrant-less tracking and data sharing: Flock's business model enables a nationwide data-sharing network that allows thousands of law enforcement agencies to access location data without warrants or reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.<ref name="ACLUStanley" />

*Expanded audio surveillance: In 2025, Flock announced that its Raven gunshot detection systems would begin listening for "human distress" sounds, such as screaming, expanding beyond gunshot detection to voice monitoring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guariglia |first=Matthew |title=Flock's Gunshot Detection Microphones Will Start Listening for Human Voices
|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=2 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251029213640/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |archive-date=29 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Undermining state shield laws: Despite state laws protecting healthcare access, out-of-state officers from jurisdictions that criminalize abortion or gender-affirming care can access Flock data on residents of protective states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maass |first=Dave |title=Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007134746/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Immigration enforcement: Research from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights documented systematic access to Flock data by federal immigration authorities, often in violation of state laws.<ref name=":0" /> This occurred through three methods: "front door" access, where agencies directly shared data with Border Patrol; "back door" access via a default "National Lookup" setting that granted federal access without explicit local authorization; and "side door" searches where local officers ran searches on behalf of ICE.<ref name=":0" />

*Contractual privacy overreach: The ACLU of Massachusetts found that Flock's default service agreement grants the company a "worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free" license to disclose agency data for "investigative purposes," even if a local police department has chosen to restrict data-sharing with other agencies.<ref name="ACLUStanley2">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock Can Share Driver-Surveillance Data Even When Police Departments Opt Out, And Other Flock Developments |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024234020/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Business model===
Flock Safety operates on a subscription-based "safety-as-a-service" model.<ref name="Sacra">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety revenue, growth rate & funding |url=https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |website=Sacra |url-access=limited |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251123150450/https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |archive-date=23 Nov 2025}}</ref> The company charges approximately $2,500 per camera annually, plus a one-time installation fee.<ref name="Sacra" /> This subscription includes maintenance, software updates, and data hosting. Forbes reported in 2025 that a single license plate reader camera costs between $3,000 and $3,500, with additional fees for the FlockOS platform.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=AI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In America |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |website=Forbes |date=3 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903144312/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref> This model has proven highly successful, with the company reporting over $300 million in annual recurring revenue as of 2024, reflecting a 70% year-over-year increase.<ref name="FlockFunding" />

Flock's AI-enabled cameras capture detailed vehicle "[[Device fingerprint|fingerprints]]" — including make, model, color, bumper stickers, damages, and other distinguishing characteristics — in addition to license plates,<ref name=":4" /> with footage retained for thirty days before deletion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Mar 2019 |title=How Flock Safety Eliminates Neighborhood Crime While Protecting Resident Privacy |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/how-flock-safety-protects-resident-privacy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tRLU8 |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The company's network benefits from strong network effects. Investor Andreessen Horowitz has stated the system's power grows with adoption, as "digital evidence can be pooled across different law enforcement agencies," creating network effects that increase surveillance capabilities as more agencies join.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulevitch
|first=David |last2=George |first2=David |title=Investing in Flock Safety |url=https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |website=Andreessen Horowitz |date=13 Jul 2021 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928171419/https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |archive-date=28 Sep 2023}}</ref> As cameras are deployed across more jurisdictions, participating agencies gain access to a broader shared data pool.

Flock initially focused on homeowner's associations — which still account for roughly 40% of its business — before expanding rapidly into law enforcement and enterprise sectors, illustrating a "land-and-expand" growth strategy.<ref name="Sacra" /> Major venture capital firms have invested heavily, signaling strong market confidence. In March 2025, a funding round of $275 million was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Green Oaks Capital, Bedrock Capital, and Tiger Global, among others, valuing the company at $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pavri |first=Rezwan D. |last2=Conklin |first2=Colin G. |title=Wilson Sonsini Advises Flock Safety on $275 Million Financing |url=https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |website=Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati |date=14 Mar 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315234904/https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |archive-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> Major corporate clients include retailers like {{Wplink|Lowe's}} and {{Wplink|FedEx}}, mall operator {{Wplink|Simon Property Group}}, and healthcare provider {{Wplink|Kaiser Permanente}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=America's Biggest Mall Owner Is Sharing AI Surveillance Feeds Directly With Cops |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |website=Forbes |date=6 May 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203012902/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=FedEx's Secretive Police Force Is Helping Cops Build An AI Car Surveillance Network |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |website=Forbes |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128023325/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Strategic acquisitions and infrastructure investment fuel the company's expansion. Following its acquisition of Aerodome in October 2024, Flock Safety is building a 100,000-square-foot U.S.A. manufacturing facility for drone production.<ref name=":1" />

==Surveillance technology==
{{Main|Flock license plate readers}}

Flock Safety offers an integrated ecosystem of surveillance hardware and software marketed as a public safety platform.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Product Hub |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products |website=Flock Safety |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221459/https://www.flocksafety.com/products |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The hardware component includes solar-powered ALPRs;<ref name=":2" /> video cameras with AI-powered analytics for people and vehicle detection;<ref name=":2" /> acoustic sensors that identify gunshots and breaking glass for real-time alerts;<ref name=":2" /> and drones acquired through Aerodome for "drone as first responder" systems automatically dispatched to emergency calls.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Expands Into Drones |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |website=Flock Safety |date=17 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221554/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Specific product models include the Falcon and Sparrow license plate readers, as well as the Raven gunshot detection system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz-Lecabe |first=Mike |title=Dissection of Flock Safety Camera |url=https://www.chrp.org/blog/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera |website=The Center for Human Rights and Privacy |date=1 Apr 2022 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430151222/https://www.cehrp.org/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera/ |archive-date=30 Apr 2022}}</ref> Flock's software integrates with police vehicle systems, including widely-used {{Wplink|Axon Enterprise|Axon}} dashcams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axon Partners with Flock Safety to Enhance Security for Cities and Neighborhoods |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |website=PR Newswire |date=2 Apr 2020 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404123408/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |archive-date=4 Apr 2020}}</ref>

The software platform includes FlockOS, a real-time crime center platform that enables users to view maps and geographic data, body camera and drone feeds, 911 call data, as well as traffic camera and acoustic sensor data.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Aug 2025 |title=The Evolution of FlockOS: How Customer Feedback Continues to Shape the Future |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/the-evolution-of-flockos-how-customer-feedback-continues-to-shape-the-future |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/PaFQu |archive-date=25 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> FlockOS enables the National LPR Network, a nationwide database for sharing and searching LPR data across jurisdictions; and Flock Nova, a data analytics platform that integrates LPR data with law enforcement systems, such as Records Management Systems (RMS) and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), to identify patterns.<ref name=":2" />

==Incidents==
===The FBI is accused in pending lawsuit to use Flock data to "create a domestic terrorist" (February 2026)===
In a recent reporting by LegalEagle on Youtube https://youtu.be/ZRZoGc3Wdpo?t=1138 at timestamp 18:58, court documents are shown where law enforcement collects 30 days of movements from Flock cameras (after the fact) in efforts to "construct the appearance the person is a domestic terrorist". The release of this footage was denied to ensure people not know where the cameras are in order to avoid them. This was a part of the ICE operation "Midway Blitz".
===Wrongful package theft accusation in Bow Mar, Colorado (September 2025)===
On 27 September 2025, Columbine Valley Police Sgt. Jamie Milliman wrongfully accused Denver resident Chrisanna Elser of package theft, relying exclusively on Flock Safety license plate reader data that placed her vehicle in Bow Mar during the robbery.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Andrew |title=Police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of package theft. She had her own evidence |url=https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |website=Denverite |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028180112/https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |archive-date=28 Oct 2025}}</ref> The officer asserted "zero doubt" about her guilt, telling her verbatim, "It is locked in. There is zero doubt. I wouldn't have come here unless I was 100% sure." He also bragged about the extensive surveillance network, stating "You can't get a breath of fresh air, in or out of that place, without us knowing."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Prentzel |first=Olivia |title=After police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of theft, she had to prove her own innocence |url=https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |website=The Colorado Sun |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112221400/https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> When Elser denied the accusation, Milliman refused to show her the supposed evidence, stating, "You have not been honest with me, so I'm not going to extend you any courtesy of showing you a video when I don't need to."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coon |first=Anna |title=Police use Flock cameras to wrongfully accuse Denver woman of theft |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |website=KDVR |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103031304/https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> Elser was compelled to compile extensive exculpatory evidence, including dashcam footage, Google Timeline data, witness statements, and surveillance images from her tailor. She ultimately submitted a seven-page affidavit and a voluminous Google Drive folder to prove her innocence.<ref name=":5" /> The summons was voided several weeks later after Police Chief Bret Cottrell reviewed her evidence, writing, "After reviewing the evidence you have provided (nicely done btw), we have voided the summons that was issued." However, the department provided neither an apology nor an explanation.<ref name=":6" />

===Denver contract and surveillance controversy (October 2025 ongoing)===
On 22 October 2025, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unilaterally renewed the city's contract with Flock Safety through an emergency executive order just hours before a town hall protest, after the Denver City Council had unanimously rejected the contract 12-0.<ref name="cbsdenver">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Chierstin |title=Some on the Denver City Council upset after Mayor Mike Johnston moves forward with controversial Flock cameras |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |website=CBS News Colorado |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030171650/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |archive-date=30 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name="coloradopolitics">{{Cite web |last=Grigsby |first=Deborah |title=Anger grows as Denver mayor extends Flock camera contract |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |website=Colorado Politics |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024231906/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> The council's rejection was due to a lack of guardrails around data access and privacy concerns.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> The mayor's move, described by Councilwoman Shontel Lewis as "'king' behavior," bypassed the democratic process and sparked immediate public backlash.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> A town hall protest organized by consumer advocate Louis Rossmann drew close to 700 attendees, filling a main conference room and overflow spaces.<ref name="coloradopolitics" /><ref name=":7" /> Rossmann had also published a guide for residents to oppose the cameras.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=A guide to de‑flocking Denver: here's EXACTLY what you need to do, step‑by‑step. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |website=[[YouTube]] |date=20 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> The new, no-cost five-month extension included new safeguards, such as a $100,000 fine on Flock for any unauthorized data sharing and cutting off access for all jurisdictions outside of the Denver Police Department.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" /> The mayor's office cited the technology's role in recovering stolen vehicles and solving homicides, while critics remained concerned about executive overreach and the system's potential for misuse.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" />

===Data sharing with federal immigration authorities (Ongoing)===
Federal immigration enforcement agencies systematically accessed Flock's license plate data through multiple methods despite state laws prohibiting such sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler
|first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows |url=https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |website=404 Media |date=27 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527141200/https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |archive-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> This included direct "front door" access where at least eight Washington law enforcement agencies enabled 1:1 data sharing with the U.S. Border Patrol,<ref name=":0" /> "back door" access where Border Patrol searched data from at least ten Washington police departments without explicit authorization,<ref name=":0" /> and "side door" searches where local officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" into search fields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media
|date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Internal Flock data revealed that CBP had access to more than 80,000 cameras nationwide, with searches conducted in multiple states, potentially violating state sanctuary laws.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=John |title=License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies among investigation concerns |url=https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |website=ABC7 |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827010855/https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |archive-date=27 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Investigation of abortion seeker (May 2025)===
A Johnson County, Texas sheriff's officer conducted a nationwide surveillance operation using Flock Safety's network to track a woman who had a self-managed abortion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion |url=https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |website=404 Media |date=29 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529181049/https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |archive-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> The search spanned 6,809 different Flock networks and queried data from over 83,000 cameras across multiple states.<ref name=":0" /> The officer specifically searched Flock camera data from Yakima and Prosser, Washington, accessing surveillance data from jurisdictions where abortion is legally protected to investigate someone from a restrictive state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime |url=https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |website=404 Media |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007135454/https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> While police initially claimed the surveillance was for the woman's "safety," internal documents revealed the case was officially logged as a "death investigation" and detectives had consulted the district attorney about charging the woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Gideon |title=Flock Gives Law Enforcement All Over the Country Access to Your Location |url=https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |website=ACLU Massachusetts |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018052911/https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> The incident sparked a congressional investigation and led to multiple jurisdictions re-evaluating their Flock contracts over concerns about reproductive rights surveillance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=I'm Hearing About More Pushback Against Flock, Fueled by Concern Over Anti-Immigrant Uses |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |website=ACLU |date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821161654/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Paused federal pilots and systemic data sharing with federal agencies (August 2025)===
Flock Safety announced it was pausing all ongoing pilot programs with Department of Homeland Security agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Langley |first=Garrett |date=25 Aug 2025 |title=Ensuring Local Compliance |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/ensuring-local-compliance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tdOCI |archive-date=25 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The company stated this pause was to "ensure local compliance" and admitted its previous public statements had "inadvertently provided inaccurate information" about the level of federal access to its network.<ref name=":3" />

This decision followed investigations revealing systemic data sharing with federal immigration authorities that potentially violated state laws in Washington, Illinois, and other states with sanctuary protections.<ref name=":0" /> A University of Washington Center for Human Rights report documented three methods of federal access:

*Front door access: At least eight Washington law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Yakima and Wenatchee, enabled direct data sharing with U.S. Border Patrol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee">{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Jordan |title=Flock Safety setting allowed U.S. Border Patrol access to Wenatchee Valley license plate data without police knowledge |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |website=The Wenatchee World |date=27 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103210114/https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref>

*Back door access: A default "National Lookup" setting allowed Border Patrol to access data from at least ten Washington agencies without explicit authorization. Police chiefs in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee stated they were unaware of this setting and disabled it upon discovery.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee" />

*Side door searches: Law enforcement officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" or "illegal immigration" into search fields.<ref name=":0" /> A public interest law firm noted Flock's pause of direct federal access does little to prevent this workaround, as "federal law enforcement cannot directly access this trove of information; they can just ask other Flock customers to run searches or share log-in information."<ref name="ij">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Dan |title=Public Interest Law Firm Responds to Flock Safety Pausing Federal Access to License Plate Reader Cameras |url=https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |website=Institute for Justice |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925231824/https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |archive-date=25 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Consumer complaints about business practices===
Multiple independent user reviews on {{Wplink|Trustpilot}}, as well as reports from legal advocacy groups, detail a range of consumer complaints against Flock Safety. These issues span predatory billing practices, unreliable hardware, inadequate customer support, and concerns over the value and ethics of the service.

*Predatory billing and contract issues: Customers report aggressive auto-renewal practices. One review alleges the company sent termination notices to the incorrect party and then enforced an auto-renewed two-year contract for nearly $10,000, demanding payment because the customer did not provide a thirty-day termination notice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiala |first=Steven |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steven Fiala on 1/8/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |website=Trustpilot |date=8 Jan 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108013844/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer claimed the company would not offer a refund for cameras they found to be useless, describing the system as a "rip off."<ref name="TrustPilot RR">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Ruben |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Ruben Rodriguez on 10/13/2023 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |website=Trustpilot |date=13 Oct 2023 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108014407/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> The Institute for Justice has raised concerns that Flock tries to "lock customers into its products."<ref name="ij" />

*Poor camera reliability and performance: Reviews frequently cite hardware failures and poor video quality. One neighborhood reported that a camera, costing $4,000 per year, was operational for only nine days before failing and had been offline for 25% of its total service time.<ref name="TrustPilot SE">{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Steve |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steve Elliott on 6/20/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |website=Trustpilot |date=20 Jun 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108020837/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer complained that the cameras are "not live" and lack night vision, concluding that a "$300 video camera system from Harbor Freight is 100% better."<ref name="TrustPilot RR" />

*Inadequate customer support: Numerous complaints have been made about poor customer service, particularly among smaller communities and organizations. One reviewer felt that the company is "focused on big city/county government contracts" and that "little guys are at the back of the line for support."<ref name="TrustPilot SE" /> The company's profile on TrustPilot indicates that it has not replied to negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |website=TrustPilot |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108022250/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |archive-date=8 Jan 2026 |quote=Hasn’t replied to negative reviews}}</ref>

*Ethical and legal concerns: Some criticisms extend beyond business practices to the product's societal impact. Major civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have published analyses raising significant privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley" /> The ACLU has also published analyses raising considerable privacy concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley2" />

==Lawsuits==
===''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (18 September 2025)===
A lawsuit in Norfolk, VA, revealed that the city's ALPR system has logged the location of a plaintiff's vehicle 526 times in 4 months.<ref name=":9" /> The second plaintiff had their vehicle's position logged 849 times in a similar time period. The ALPR system is provided by Flock to the Norfolk Police Department in a deal costing $2.2 million, in return for Flock providing services through to the end of 2027. The camera installation began in 2023 and, at present, there are 176 cameras around the city. The lawsuit is requesting that the plaintiff's data be deleted and the cameras be turned off, arguing that these actions constitute an infringement of the Fourth Amendment and a warrant-less search. Flock counters this assertion by claiming that "LPRs do not constitute a warrant-less search because they take point-in-time photos of cars in public and cannot continuously track the movements of any individual." This legal position was supported by a ruling from the Virginia Court of Appeals in October 2025, which reversed a lower court and found that warrant-less use of Flock's system does not violate the Fourth Amendment.<ref name=":10" />

===''United States v. Martin'' (11 October 2024)===
In ''United States v. Martin'' (E.D. Va.), the district court denied a motion to suppress evidence obtained via an ALPR network, issuing a memorandum opinion on 11 October 2024. The court concluded that the images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles on public roads and therefore did not establish a reasonable expectation of privacy for purposes of the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Robert E. |title=MEMORANDUM OPINION, United States v. Martin, No. 3:23-cr-150 (E.D. Va. Oct. 11, 2024) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |url-access=limited |website=vLex |date=11 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108024629/https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> 

Legal commentators have treated the ruling as a persuasive decision supporting warrant-less searches of ALPR/Flock databases in that jurisdiction; however, it remains a district-court decision and not binding precedent outside the Eastern District of Virginia. Courts in other jurisdictions have reached different conclusions on the warrant requirements for ALPR searches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grosdidier |first=Pierre |title=Authorities can search Flock databases without a warrant |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |website=Texas Bar Journal |date=Apr 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418012511/https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |archive-date=18 Apr 2025}}</ref>

===Public records lawsuits in Washington (2025)===
Multiple public-records disputes over Flock camera data have led to litigation in Washington. In one high-profile example, the cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood filed a declaratory-judgment action in Skagit County (Case No. 25-2-00717-29), asking a court to declare that images and data stored in Flock's AWS cloud are not "public records" under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA) unless and until a public agency accesses and downloads them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guildner |first=Emily |title=City of Sedro-Woolley and City of Stanwood v. Jose Rodriguez — Complaint for Declaratory Judgment |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |website=Scribd |date=16 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221830/https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The dispute became contested in multiple forums after the requester filed his own suit and responsive filings, alleging that the cities had violated the PRA. While the litigation proceeds, some municipalities have paused or disabled Flock camera deployments pending a judicial ruling on whether the raw images and data must be released as public records.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenna |title=Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |website=HeraldNet |date=10 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911213648/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |archive-date=11 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Norfolk Circuit Court warrant requirement (2024-2025)===
In June 2024, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge granted a defendant's motion to suppress evidence obtained from the city's Flock ALPR system, ruling that, in that case, warrant-less access to the system implicated the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Katie |title=Norfolk judge rejects police Flock camera evidence without warrant |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |website=The Virginian-Pilot |date=15 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702005515/https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |archive-date=2 Jul 2024}}</ref>

That trial-court ruling was later reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals in ''Commonwealth v. Church'' in Oct 2025, which concluded the circuit court erred and held that the ALPR images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles in public and therefore did not require a search warrant; the appellate court reversed the suppression and remanded for further proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beales |first=Randolph A. |title=Commonwealth v. Ronnie D. Church, No. 0737-25-1 (Va. Ct. App. Oct. 2025) (unpublished opinion) |url=https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |website=Virginia Court System |date=14 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028232244/https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |archive-date=28 Oct 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://deflock.me/ DeFlock: ALPR Location Map]
*[https://www.noalprs.org/ No ALPRs: Advocacy Group]
*[https://www.eff.org/issues/license-plate-readers EFF: License Plate Readers]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20260415082121/https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/flock_1.pdf ACLU: Fast-Growing Company Flock is Building a New AI-Driven Mass-Surveillance System]
*[https://www.wired.com/tag/automated-license-plate-readers/ Wired: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.vice.com/en/topic/automated-license-plate-readers Vice: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.technologyreview.com/tag/surveillance/ MIT Technology Review: Surveillance]
*[https://www.flock-restrictions.org/ Flock Restrictions: Policy Tracking]
*[https://www.urban.org/features/how-police-use-technology Urban Institute: Police Technology Use]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Honda requires connection of the car to the internet and creating an account to be able to download offline map updates.

2026-04-26T02:58:58Z

Neige:

{{#seo:
|description=Honda requires vehicle internet connection and account creation on its navigation portal to download offline map updates, despite already having the VIN.
}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Honda
|StartDate=2023-09
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Forced Account Creation,Privacy
|Description=Requires car internet connection and account creation to download offline map updates despite already having the VIN
}}
[[Honda]] owners who purchased vehicles with built-in navigation systems can't download offline map updates without first connecting the car to the internet, activating Online Services to transmit the vehicle's VIN to [[HERE Technologies]], and creating an account on the Honda Navigation Store.<ref name="honda-faq">{{Cite web |title=Honda FAQ & Troubleshooting Guide |url=https://hondanavi.navigation.com/static/WFS/Shop-HondaNA-Site/-/Shop-HondaNA/en_US/Documents/Honda-FAQ-and-Troubleshooting-Guide.pdf |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Navigation Store |publisher=HERE Technologies}}</ref><ref name="honda-navi-store">{{Cite web |title=Honda Navigation System GPS Map Update |url=https://hondanavi.navigation.com/home/en_US/HondaNA/USD |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Navigation Store |publisher=HERE Technologies}}</ref> Honda already has the VIN for each vehicle and sends owners personalized emails with that VIN to notify them of available updates, but the download process still requires the vehicle to independently transmit the same VIN through Online Services and the owner to register on the HERE Technologies portal before the update can be downloaded.<ref name="honda-faq" />

==Background==

[[Honda]] sells several vehicle models with infotainment systems that include built-in navigation maps. The map data is provided by HERE Technologies, a mapping and location data company that operates the Honda Navigation Store at hondanavi.navigation.com.<ref name="honda-navi-store" /> Honda's MapCare program provides free map updates for a limited period after new vehicle purchase, after which owners must pay for a subscription renewal.<ref name="honda-faq" />

To update their maps, owners must register an account on the Honda Navigation Store, enter their vehicle model, model year, VIN, and current database version, then download the update to a USB drive on a Windows or Mac computer.<ref name="honda-faq" /><ref name="honda-navi-store" /> The update cannot be downloaded to a phone, tablet, or Chromebook. The USB drive is then inserted into the vehicle to install the update, a process that takes roughly 40 minutes.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response">{{Cite web |title=Your Complimentary Map Update Is Now Available! |url=https://www.piloteers.org/threads/your-complimentary-map-update-is-now-available.183448/ |date=2023-09-20 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Pilot Forums (piloteers.org)}}</ref>

==Online Services and account requirement==

Downloading a map update requires two separate gatekeeping steps: the vehicle must have Online Services activated, and the owner must create an account on the Honda Navigation Store portal operated by HERE Technologies.<ref name="honda-navi-store" /> The portal prompts users to register with an email address and password before proceeding.<ref name="honda-navi-store" />

Honda's own FAQ states that Online Services must be turned on because "this is the only way HERE Technologies gets a feed of the vehicle VIN in able to recognize it on the MapCare portal."<ref name="honda-faq" /> The FAQ adds that Online Services "should remain on while you complete a map update download or Wi-Fi update."<ref name="honda-faq" />

Honda owners on automotive forums have pointed out a contradiction in this process. Honda sends owners personalized emails containing their VIN to notify them of available updates.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /> If Honda has the VIN in its own database and can associate it with the owner's email address, the VIN could be transmitted to HERE Technologies without requiring the vehicle to establish an independent internet connection. The download itself happens on a separate computer, not on the vehicle.<ref name="honda-faq" />

Multiple Honda Pilot owners have reported that activating Online Services fails despite functional internet connections. One 2024 Pilot Elite owner reported getting a "no internet connection" error even though Android Auto and HondaLink were connected and working.<ref name="piloteers-online-services">{{Cite web |title=2024 Pilot "connect to on-line services" for map update |url=https://www.piloteers.org/threads/2024-pilot-connect-to-on-line-services-for-map-update.185445/ |date=2024-03-20 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Pilot Forums (piloteers.org)}}</ref> Another owner activated Online Services successfully but received an error stating the subscription "expired in 1972" on a brand-new 2024 vehicle; customer service told them to purchase a subscription.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

The only workaround some owners have found is connecting to the vehicle's free three-month trial AT&T hotspot, which enables the Online Services connection. Once that trial expires, the vehicle loses its internet connection and further map updates require a paid cellular subscription or an alternative connection method.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

===Honda's response===

Honda Navigation Center, when asked by an owner about updating maps without Online Services, responded: "Unfortunately, you have to have online services connected in order for the map updates to work."<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /> The owner had noted that Honda already had their VIN, as Honda had sent them an email containing it. Honda did not address why the VIN needed to be transmitted a second time through the vehicle.

HERE Technologies, which provides third-party support for the Honda Navigation Store, has been unable to resolve the issue for owners who contact them directly. One owner reported spending over two hours on the phone with Honda and HERE without resolution, describing both support teams as reading from information binders with no ability to troubleshoot the underlying problem.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

==Related enforcement actions==

In March 2025, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) announced a settlement requiring Honda to pay $632,500 and change its business practices for violating the [[California Consumer Privacy Act]] (CCPA).<ref name="cppa-honda">{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Honda Settles With CPPA Over Privacy Violations |url=https://cppa.ca.gov/announcements/2025/20250312.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260423140943/https://cppa.ca.gov/announcements/2025/20250312.html |archive-date=23 April 2026 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=California Privacy Protection Agency}}</ref> The CPPA found that Honda required consumers to "verify themselves and provide excessive personal information" to exercise privacy rights such as opting out of data sales. Honda also shared consumer data with advertising companies without producing contracts containing the necessary terms to protect privacy.<ref name="cppa-honda" />

The settlement arose from the CPPA's investigation into data privacy practices by connected vehicle manufacturers in the state of California.<ref name="cppa-honda" />

==Consumer response==

Honda Pilot owners on automotive forums have documented persistent frustration with the map update process. Common complaints include VIN verification failures on the Honda Navigation Store despite using the VIN from Honda's own notification emails, "no internet connection" errors when attempting to activate Online Services, and dealerships that are unable to assist with the process.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /><ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

Several owners have abandoned Honda's built-in navigation entirely, opting to use Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay instead.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /> One owner described the built-in navigation as "worthless" and "a complete waste of time."<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" />

The issue affects Honda vehicles with newer HERE Technologies-based infotainment systems, beginning with certain 2023 model year vehicles such as the Pilot. Some Honda models continued using Garmin-based navigation through 2024.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

==See also==

*[[Forced account]]
*[[Forced cloud]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Honda requires connection of the car to the internet and creating an account to be able to download offline map updates}}
[[Category:Honda]]
[[Category:Forced Account Creation]]
[[Category:Privacy]]

Flock Safety

2026-04-20T21:56:41Z

Neige: More archives on Ghost Archive

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2017
|Industry=Surveillance Technology
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.flocksafety.com,
|Description=Flock Safety is an American surveillance technology company that develops and operates a mass surveillance system combining automated license plate readers (LPRs), video surveillance cameras, gunshot detection, drones, and data analytics platforms used by thousands of law enforcement agencies and private entities across the United States.
|Logo=Flock Safety Logo (2025).svg
}}

'''{{Wplink|Flock Safety}}''' is a technology company that creates and operates an extensive surveillance network using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and related technologies.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=23 Oct 2025 |title=Highlights from Denver's Flock camera town hall – Mayor didn't show up |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Flock was founded in 2017 by Georgia Tech alumni Garrett Langley (CEO), Matt Feury (CTO), and Paige Todd (CPO), beginning as a side project where they built their first surveillance cameras by hand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edmonson |first=Crystal |date=22 Aug 2023 |title=Flock Safety cameras help police amid worker shortage, CEO Garrett Langley says |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/08/22/flock-safety-ceo-garrett-langley-podcast.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}</ref> The company operates on a "surveillance as a service" business model, owning and maintaining camera infrastructure while charging recurring fees to law enforcement agencies, private communities, and businesses for access to its surveillance data and network.<ref name="FlockFunding">{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2025 |title=Accelerating Innovation: Flock Secures $275 Million to Advance Crime-Solving Technology |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-secures-major-funding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/64KcV |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

As of mid-2025, independent reporting and public records indicate the Flock network comprised more than 80,000 AI-enabled cameras nationwide.<ref name="Koebler2025">{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media |date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=29 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Flock's materials state deployments in roughly 5,000 communities, and the company reports the system processes "over 20 billion" vehicle scans per month; these latter two figures are company-provided and should be read as Flock's claims rather than independently verified totals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2025 |title=City Leaders Choose Flock Safety: A Proven, Community-Focused Public Safety Solution |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/city-leaders-choose-flock-safety-a-proven-community-focused-public-safety-solution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mQzuY |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Real-Time Vehicle Leads, Nationwide |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/national-lpr-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mJ8nZ |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date= |title=FlockOS |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-os |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LrSjc |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

The company reported surpassing roughly $300 million in annual recurring revenue. In March 2025, it closed a $275 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, which independent reporting estimated valued the company at about $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hu |first=Krystal |title=US startup Flock Safety raises $275 million to fund manufacturing plant, R&D |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-startup-flock-safety-raises-275-million-fund-manufacturing-plant-rd-2025-03-13/ |website=Reuters |date=13 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/JaV0t |archive-date=13 Mar 2025}}</ref> As of 2025, the company has raised a total of $957.5 million in funding.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=MacBride |first=Elizabeth |title=Flock Safety: 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |website=CNBC |date=10 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612102045/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |archive-date=12 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
===Privacy===
Critics, including civil liberties organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that Flock's mass surveillance network violates privacy rights and represents a form of constant public monitoring that differs fundamentally from traditional, fleeting police observation.<ref name="ACLUStanley">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock's Aggressive Expansions Go Far Beyond Simple Driver Surveillance |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=18 Aug 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819025249/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |archive-date=19 Aug 2025}}</ref> A lawsuit filed in 2024 challenges the constitutionality of warrant-less searches of ALPR databases; courts have split on the issue in different jurisdictions, and rulings continue to be appealed. For example, a federal complaint in ''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (E.D. Va.) alleges repeated location logging by ALPRs, while appellate activity in related Virginia cases continued into 2025. Readers should consult the cited court documents and reporting for further developments.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Collier |first=Kevin |title=Police cameras tracked one driver 526 times in four months, lawsuit says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |website=NBC News |date=18 Sep 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918133508/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=14 Oct 2025 |title=Flock Applauds Virginia Court of Appeals Ruling Affirming Constitutionality of LPR Cameras |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-applauds-virginia-court-of-appeals-ruling-affirming-constitutionality-of-lpr-cameras |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/JbcMV |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The system does not offer a public opt-out mechanism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement |url=https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |website=University of Washington Center for Human Rights
|date=21 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251113234912/https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> This raised concerns about the potential for misuse, profiling, and long-term monitoring of individuals and their associations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Sarah |last2=Alajaji |first2=Rindala |title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=27 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628052030/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |archive-date=28 Jun 2025}}</ref>

Specific privacy violations include:
*Warrant-less tracking and data sharing: Flock's business model enables a nationwide data-sharing network that allows thousands of law enforcement agencies to access location data without warrants or reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.<ref name="ACLUStanley" />

*Expanded audio surveillance: In 2025, Flock announced that its Raven gunshot detection systems would begin listening for "human distress" sounds, such as screaming, expanding beyond gunshot detection to voice monitoring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guariglia |first=Matthew |title=Flock's Gunshot Detection Microphones Will Start Listening for Human Voices
|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=2 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251029213640/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |archive-date=29 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Undermining state shield laws: Despite state laws protecting healthcare access, out-of-state officers from jurisdictions that criminalize abortion or gender-affirming care can access Flock data on residents of protective states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maass |first=Dave |title=Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007134746/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Immigration enforcement: Research from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights documented systematic access to Flock data by federal immigration authorities, often in violation of state laws.<ref name=":0" /> This occurred through three methods: "front door" access, where agencies directly shared data with Border Patrol; "back door" access via a default "National Lookup" setting that granted federal access without explicit local authorization; and "side door" searches where local officers ran searches on behalf of ICE.<ref name=":0" />

*Contractual privacy overreach: The ACLU of Massachusetts found that Flock's default service agreement grants the company a "worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free" license to disclose agency data for "investigative purposes," even if a local police department has chosen to restrict data-sharing with other agencies.<ref name="ACLUStanley2">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock Can Share Driver-Surveillance Data Even When Police Departments Opt Out, And Other Flock Developments |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024234020/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Business model===
Flock Safety operates on a subscription-based "safety-as-a-service" model.<ref name="Sacra">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety revenue, growth rate & funding |url=https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |website=Sacra |url-access=limited |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251123150450/https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |archive-date=23 Nov 2025}}</ref> The company charges approximately $2,500 per camera annually, plus a one-time installation fee.<ref name="Sacra" /> This subscription includes maintenance, software updates, and data hosting. Forbes reported in 2025 that a single license plate reader camera costs between $3,000 and $3,500, with additional fees for the FlockOS platform.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=AI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In America |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |website=Forbes |date=3 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903144312/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref> This model has proven highly successful, with the company reporting over $300 million in annual recurring revenue as of 2024, reflecting a 70% year-over-year increase.<ref name="FlockFunding" />

Flock's AI-enabled cameras capture detailed vehicle "[[Device fingerprint|fingerprints]]" — including make, model, color, bumper stickers, damages, and other distinguishing characteristics — in addition to license plates,<ref name=":4" /> with footage retained for thirty days before deletion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Mar 2019 |title=How Flock Safety Eliminates Neighborhood Crime While Protecting Resident Privacy |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/how-flock-safety-protects-resident-privacy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tRLU8 |archive-date=20 April 2026 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref> The company's network benefits from strong network effects. Investor Andreessen Horowitz has stated the system's power grows with adoption, as "digital evidence can be pooled across different law enforcement agencies," creating network effects that increase surveillance capabilities as more agencies join.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulevitch
|first=David |last2=George |first2=David |title=Investing in Flock Safety |url=https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |website=Andreessen Horowitz |date=13 Jul 2021 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928171419/https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |archive-date=28 Sep 2023}}</ref> As cameras are deployed across more jurisdictions, participating agencies gain access to a broader shared data pool.

Flock initially focused on homeowner's associations — which still account for roughly 40% of its business — before expanding rapidly into law enforcement and enterprise sectors, illustrating a "land-and-expand" growth strategy.<ref name="Sacra" /> Major venture capital firms have invested heavily, signaling strong market confidence. In March 2025, a funding round of $275 million was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Green Oaks Capital, Bedrock Capital, and Tiger Global, among others, valuing the company at $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pavri |first=Rezwan D. |last2=Conklin |first2=Colin G. |title=Wilson Sonsini Advises Flock Safety on $275 Million Financing |url=https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |website=Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati |date=14 Mar 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315234904/https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |archive-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> Major corporate clients include retailers like {{Wplink|Lowe's}} and {{Wplink|FedEx}}, mall operator {{Wplink|Simon Property Group}}, and healthcare provider {{Wplink|Kaiser Permanente}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=America's Biggest Mall Owner Is Sharing AI Surveillance Feeds Directly With Cops |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |website=Forbes |date=6 May 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203012902/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=FedEx's Secretive Police Force Is Helping Cops Build An AI Car Surveillance Network |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |website=Forbes |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128023325/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Strategic acquisitions and infrastructure investment fuel the company's expansion. Following its acquisition of Aerodome in October 2024, Flock Safety is building a 100,000-square-foot U.S.A. manufacturing facility for drone production.<ref name=":1" />

==Surveillance technology==
{{Main|Flock license plate readers}}

Flock Safety offers an integrated ecosystem of surveillance hardware and software marketed as a public safety platform.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Product Hub |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products |website=Flock Safety |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221459/https://www.flocksafety.com/products |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The hardware component includes solar-powered ALPRs;<ref name=":2" /> video cameras with AI-powered analytics for people and vehicle detection;<ref name=":2" /> acoustic sensors that identify gunshots and breaking glass for real-time alerts;<ref name=":2" /> and drones acquired through Aerodome for "drone as first responder" systems automatically dispatched to emergency calls.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Expands Into Drones |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |website=Flock Safety |date=17 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221554/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Specific product models include the Falcon and Sparrow license plate readers, as well as the Raven gunshot detection system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz-Lecabe |first=Mike |title=Dissection of Flock Safety Camera |url=https://www.chrp.org/blog/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera |website=The Center for Human Rights and Privacy |date=1 Apr 2022 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430151222/https://www.cehrp.org/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera/ |archive-date=30 Apr 2022}}</ref> Flock's software integrates with police vehicle systems, including widely-used {{Wplink|Axon Enterprise|Axon}} dashcams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axon Partners with Flock Safety to Enhance Security for Cities and Neighborhoods |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |website=PR Newswire |date=2 Apr 2020 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404123408/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |archive-date=4 Apr 2020}}</ref>

The software platform includes FlockOS, a real-time crime center platform that enables users to view maps and geographic data, body camera and drone feeds, 911 call data, as well as traffic camera and acoustic sensor data.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Evolution of FlockOS: How Customer Feedback Continues to Shape the Future |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/the-evolution-of-flockos-how-customer-feedback-continues-to-shape-the-future |website=Flock Safety |date=5 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221633/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/the-evolution-of-flockos-how-customer-feedback-continues-to-shape-the-future
|archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> FlockOS enables the National LPR Network, a nationwide database for sharing and searching LPR data across jurisdictions; and Flock Nova, a data analytics platform that integrates LPR data with law enforcement systems, such as Records Management Systems (RMS) and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), to identify patterns.<ref name=":2" />

==Incidents==
===The FBI is accused in pending lawsuit to use Flock data to "create a domestic terrorist" (February 2026)===
In a recent reporting by LegalEagle on Youtube https://youtu.be/ZRZoGc3Wdpo?t=1138 at timestamp 18:58, court documents are shown where law enforcement collects 30 days of movements from Flock cameras (after the fact) in efforts to "construct the appearance the person is a domestic terrorist". The release of this footage was denied to ensure people not know where the cameras are in order to avoid them. This was a part of the ICE operation "Midway Blitz".
===Wrongful package theft accusation in Bow Mar, Colorado (September 2025)===
On 27 September 2025, Columbine Valley Police Sgt. Jamie Milliman wrongfully accused Denver resident Chrisanna Elser of package theft, relying exclusively on Flock Safety license plate reader data that placed her vehicle in Bow Mar during the robbery.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Andrew |title=Police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of package theft. She had her own evidence |url=https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |website=Denverite |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028180112/https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |archive-date=28 Oct 2025}}</ref> The officer asserted "zero doubt" about her guilt, telling her verbatim, "It is locked in. There is zero doubt. I wouldn't have come here unless I was 100% sure." He also bragged about the extensive surveillance network, stating "You can't get a breath of fresh air, in or out of that place, without us knowing."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Prentzel |first=Olivia |title=After police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of theft, she had to prove her own innocence |url=https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |website=The Colorado Sun |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112221400/https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> When Elser denied the accusation, Milliman refused to show her the supposed evidence, stating, "You have not been honest with me, so I'm not going to extend you any courtesy of showing you a video when I don't need to."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coon |first=Anna |title=Police use Flock cameras to wrongfully accuse Denver woman of theft |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |website=KDVR |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103031304/https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> Elser was compelled to compile extensive exculpatory evidence, including dashcam footage, Google Timeline data, witness statements, and surveillance images from her tailor. She ultimately submitted a seven-page affidavit and a voluminous Google Drive folder to prove her innocence.<ref name=":5" /> The summons was voided several weeks later after Police Chief Bret Cottrell reviewed her evidence, writing, "After reviewing the evidence you have provided (nicely done btw), we have voided the summons that was issued." However, the department provided neither an apology nor an explanation.<ref name=":6" />

===Denver contract and surveillance controversy (October 2025 ongoing)===
On 22 October 2025, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unilaterally renewed the city's contract with Flock Safety through an emergency executive order just hours before a town hall protest, after the Denver City Council had unanimously rejected the contract 12-0.<ref name="cbsdenver">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Chierstin |title=Some on the Denver City Council upset after Mayor Mike Johnston moves forward with controversial Flock cameras |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |website=CBS News Colorado |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030171650/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |archive-date=30 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name="coloradopolitics">{{Cite web |last=Grigsby |first=Deborah |title=Anger grows as Denver mayor extends Flock camera contract |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |website=Colorado Politics |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024231906/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> The council's rejection was due to a lack of guardrails around data access and privacy concerns.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> The mayor's move, described by Councilwoman Shontel Lewis as "'king' behavior," bypassed the democratic process and sparked immediate public backlash.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> A town hall protest organized by consumer advocate Louis Rossmann drew close to 700 attendees, filling a main conference room and overflow spaces.<ref name="coloradopolitics" /><ref name=":7" /> Rossmann had also published a guide for residents to oppose the cameras.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=A guide to de‑flocking Denver: here's EXACTLY what you need to do, step‑by‑step. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |website=[[YouTube]] |date=20 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> The new, no-cost five-month extension included new safeguards, such as a $100,000 fine on Flock for any unauthorized data sharing and cutting off access for all jurisdictions outside of the Denver Police Department.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" /> The mayor's office cited the technology's role in recovering stolen vehicles and solving homicides, while critics remained concerned about executive overreach and the system's potential for misuse.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" />

===Data sharing with federal immigration authorities (Ongoing)===
Federal immigration enforcement agencies systematically accessed Flock's license plate data through multiple methods despite state laws prohibiting such sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler
|first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows |url=https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |website=404 Media |date=27 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527141200/https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |archive-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> This included direct "front door" access where at least eight Washington law enforcement agencies enabled 1:1 data sharing with the U.S. Border Patrol,<ref name=":0" /> "back door" access where Border Patrol searched data from at least ten Washington police departments without explicit authorization,<ref name=":0" /> and "side door" searches where local officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" into search fields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media
|date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Internal Flock data revealed that CBP had access to more than 80,000 cameras nationwide, with searches conducted in multiple states, potentially violating state sanctuary laws.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=John |title=License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies among investigation concerns |url=https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |website=ABC7 |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827010855/https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |archive-date=27 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Investigation of abortion seeker (May 2025)===
A Johnson County, Texas sheriff's officer conducted a nationwide surveillance operation using Flock Safety's network to track a woman who had a self-managed abortion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion |url=https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |website=404 Media |date=29 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529181049/https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |archive-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> The search spanned 6,809 different Flock networks and queried data from over 83,000 cameras across multiple states.<ref name=":0" /> The officer specifically searched Flock camera data from Yakima and Prosser, Washington, accessing surveillance data from jurisdictions where abortion is legally protected to investigate someone from a restrictive state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime |url=https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |website=404 Media |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007135454/https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> While police initially claimed the surveillance was for the woman's "safety," internal documents revealed the case was officially logged as a "death investigation" and detectives had consulted the district attorney about charging the woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Gideon |title=Flock Gives Law Enforcement All Over the Country Access to Your Location |url=https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |website=ACLU Massachusetts |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018052911/https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> The incident sparked a congressional investigation and led to multiple jurisdictions re-evaluating their Flock contracts over concerns about reproductive rights surveillance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=I'm Hearing About More Pushback Against Flock, Fueled by Concern Over Anti-Immigrant Uses |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |website=ACLU |date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821161654/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Paused federal pilots and systemic data sharing with federal agencies (August 2025)===
Flock Safety announced it was pausing all ongoing pilot programs with Department of Homeland Security agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Langley |first=Garrett |title=Ensuring Local Compliance |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/ensuring-local-compliance |website=Flock Safety |date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221731/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/ensuring-local-compliance |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The company stated this pause was to "ensure local compliance" and admitted its previous public statements had "inadvertently provided inaccurate information" about the level of federal access to its network.<ref name=":3" />

This decision followed investigations revealing systemic data sharing with federal immigration authorities that potentially violated state laws in Washington, Illinois, and other states with sanctuary protections.<ref name=":0" /> A University of Washington Center for Human Rights report documented three methods of federal access:

*Front door access: At least eight Washington law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Yakima and Wenatchee, enabled direct data sharing with U.S. Border Patrol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee">{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Jordan |title=Flock Safety setting allowed U.S. Border Patrol access to Wenatchee Valley license plate data without police knowledge |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |website=The Wenatchee World |date=27 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103210114/https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref>

*Back door access: A default "National Lookup" setting allowed Border Patrol to access data from at least ten Washington agencies without explicit authorization. Police chiefs in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee stated they were unaware of this setting and disabled it upon discovery.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee" />

*Side door searches: Law enforcement officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" or "illegal immigration" into search fields.<ref name=":0" /> A public interest law firm noted Flock's pause of direct federal access does little to prevent this workaround, as "federal law enforcement cannot directly access this trove of information; they can just ask other Flock customers to run searches or share log-in information."<ref name="ij">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Dan |title=Public Interest Law Firm Responds to Flock Safety Pausing Federal Access to License Plate Reader Cameras |url=https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |website=Institute for Justice |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925231824/https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |archive-date=25 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Consumer complaints about business practices===
Multiple independent user reviews on {{Wplink|Trustpilot}}, as well as reports from legal advocacy groups, detail a range of consumer complaints against Flock Safety. These issues span predatory billing practices, unreliable hardware, inadequate customer support, and concerns over the value and ethics of the service.

*Predatory billing and contract issues: Customers report aggressive auto-renewal practices. One review alleges the company sent termination notices to the incorrect party and then enforced an auto-renewed two-year contract for nearly $10,000, demanding payment because the customer did not provide a thirty-day termination notice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiala |first=Steven |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steven Fiala on 1/8/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |website=Trustpilot |date=8 Jan 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108013844/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer claimed the company would not offer a refund for cameras they found to be useless, describing the system as a "rip off."<ref name="TrustPilot RR">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Ruben |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Ruben Rodriguez on 10/13/2023 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |website=Trustpilot |date=13 Oct 2023 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108014407/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> The Institute for Justice has raised concerns that Flock tries to "lock customers into its products."<ref name="ij" />

*Poor camera reliability and performance: Reviews frequently cite hardware failures and poor video quality. One neighborhood reported that a camera, costing $4,000 per year, was operational for only nine days before failing and had been offline for 25% of its total service time.<ref name="TrustPilot SE">{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Steve |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steve Elliott on 6/20/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |website=Trustpilot |date=20 Jun 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108020837/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer complained that the cameras are "not live" and lack night vision, concluding that a "$300 video camera system from Harbor Freight is 100% better."<ref name="TrustPilot RR" />

*Inadequate customer support: Numerous complaints have been made about poor customer service, particularly among smaller communities and organizations. One reviewer felt that the company is "focused on big city/county government contracts" and that "little guys are at the back of the line for support."<ref name="TrustPilot SE" /> The company's profile on TrustPilot indicates that it has not replied to negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |website=TrustPilot |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108022250/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |archive-date=8 Jan 2026 |quote=Hasn’t replied to negative reviews}}</ref>

*Ethical and legal concerns: Some criticisms extend beyond business practices to the product's societal impact. Major civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have published analyses raising significant privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley" /> The ACLU has also published analyses raising considerable privacy concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley2" />

==Lawsuits==
===''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (18 September 2025)===
A lawsuit in Norfolk, VA, revealed that the city's ALPR system has logged the location of a plaintiff's vehicle 526 times in 4 months.<ref name=":9" /> The second plaintiff had their vehicle's position logged 849 times in a similar time period. The ALPR system is provided by Flock to the Norfolk Police Department in a deal costing $2.2 million, in return for Flock providing services through to the end of 2027. The camera installation began in 2023 and, at present, there are 176 cameras around the city. The lawsuit is requesting that the plaintiff's data be deleted and the cameras be turned off, arguing that these actions constitute an infringement of the Fourth Amendment and a warrant-less search. Flock counters this assertion by claiming that "LPRs do not constitute a warrant-less search because they take point-in-time photos of cars in public and cannot continuously track the movements of any individual." This legal position was supported by a ruling from the Virginia Court of Appeals in October 2025, which reversed a lower court and found that warrant-less use of Flock's system does not violate the Fourth Amendment.<ref name=":10" />

===''United States v. Martin'' (11 October 2024)===
In ''United States v. Martin'' (E.D. Va.), the district court denied a motion to suppress evidence obtained via an ALPR network, issuing a memorandum opinion on 11 October 2024. The court concluded that the images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles on public roads and therefore did not establish a reasonable expectation of privacy for purposes of the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Robert E. |title=MEMORANDUM OPINION, United States v. Martin, No. 3:23-cr-150 (E.D. Va. Oct. 11, 2024) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |url-access=limited |website=vLex |date=11 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108024629/https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> 

Legal commentators have treated the ruling as a persuasive decision supporting warrant-less searches of ALPR/Flock databases in that jurisdiction; however, it remains a district-court decision and not binding precedent outside the Eastern District of Virginia. Courts in other jurisdictions have reached different conclusions on the warrant requirements for ALPR searches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grosdidier |first=Pierre |title=Authorities can search Flock databases without a warrant |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |website=Texas Bar Journal |date=Apr 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418012511/https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |archive-date=18 Apr 2025}}</ref>

===Public records lawsuits in Washington (2025)===
Multiple public-records disputes over Flock camera data have led to litigation in Washington. In one high-profile example, the cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood filed a declaratory-judgment action in Skagit County (Case No. 25-2-00717-29), asking a court to declare that images and data stored in Flock's AWS cloud are not "public records" under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA) unless and until a public agency accesses and downloads them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guildner |first=Emily |title=City of Sedro-Woolley and City of Stanwood v. Jose Rodriguez — Complaint for Declaratory Judgment |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |website=Scribd |date=16 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221830/https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The dispute became contested in multiple forums after the requester filed his own suit and responsive filings, alleging that the cities had violated the PRA. While the litigation proceeds, some municipalities have paused or disabled Flock camera deployments pending a judicial ruling on whether the raw images and data must be released as public records.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenna |title=Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |website=HeraldNet |date=10 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911213648/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |archive-date=11 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Norfolk Circuit Court warrant requirement (2024-2025)===
In June 2024, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge granted a defendant's motion to suppress evidence obtained from the city's Flock ALPR system, ruling that, in that case, warrant-less access to the system implicated the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Katie |title=Norfolk judge rejects police Flock camera evidence without warrant |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |website=The Virginian-Pilot |date=15 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702005515/https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |archive-date=2 Jul 2024}}</ref>

That trial-court ruling was later reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals in ''Commonwealth v. Church'' in Oct 2025, which concluded the circuit court erred and held that the ALPR images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles in public and therefore did not require a search warrant; the appellate court reversed the suppression and remanded for further proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beales |first=Randolph A. |title=Commonwealth v. Ronnie D. Church, No. 0737-25-1 (Va. Ct. App. Oct. 2025) (unpublished opinion) |url=https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |website=Virginia Court System |date=14 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028232244/https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |archive-date=28 Oct 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://deflock.me/ DeFlock: ALPR Location Map]
*[https://www.noalprs.org/ No ALPRs: Advocacy Group]
*[https://www.eff.org/issues/license-plate-readers EFF: License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/aclu-works-stop-license-plate-reader-surveillance ACLU: License Plate Reader Surveillance]
*[https://www.wired.com/tag/automated-license-plate-readers/ Wired: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.vice.com/en/topic/automated-license-plate-readers Vice: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.technologyreview.com/tag/surveillance/ MIT Technology Review: Surveillance]
*[https://www.flock-restrictions.org/ Flock Restrictions: Policy Tracking]
*[https://www.urban.org/features/how-police-use-technology Urban Institute: Police Technology Use]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Flock Safety Nova uses dark web data for surveillance

2026-04-20T21:39:51Z

Neige: Ghost Archive

{{#seo:
|description=Flock Safety's Nova platform planned to use data breach information for law enforcement surveillance, as revealed by leaked internal communications in 2025.
}}{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Flock Safety
|StartDate=2025-05-14
|Status=Pending Resolution
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Surveillance,Privacy
|Description=Flock Safety's Nova platform planned to ingest data breach records for police surveillance; code analysis found dark web data fields present
}}In May 2025, leaked internal communications revealed that '''[[Flock Safety]]''', a $7.5 billion surveillance technology company, planned to incorporate data from known data breaches into its Nova law enforcement platform, allowing police to link license plate scans to personal information obtained from hacked databases.<ref name="404media-nova">{{Cite web |url=https://www.404media.co/license-plate-reader-company-flock-is-building-a-massive-people-lookup-tool-leak-shows/ |title=License Plate Reader Company Flock Is Building a Massive People Lookup Tool, Leak Shows |author=Joseph Cox |date=2025-05-14 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=404 Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514140531/https://www.404media.co/license-plate-reader-company-flock-is-building-a-massive-people-lookup-tool-leak-shows/ |archive-date=2025-05-14}}</ref> After the leak, Flock told employees at an all-hands meeting that it would not use dark web data, and published a blog post titled "Correcting the Record."<ref name="404media-decision">{{Cite web |url=https://www.404media.co/flock-decides-not-to-use-hacked-data-in-people-search-tool/ |title=Flock Decides Not to Use Hacked Data in People Search Tool |author=Joseph Cox |author2=Jason Koebler |date=2025-05-30 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=404 Media}}</ref> A December 2025 analysis of Nova's front-end code found that the platform still defined a "Dark Data" source with fields for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and cryptocurrency wallets.<ref name="nexanet-code">{{Cite web |url=https://nexanet.ai/blog/license-plate-reader-company-flock-said-it-does-not-use-dark-web-data-my-analysis-of-their-code-tells-a-different-story |title=License Plate Reader Company Flock Said It Does Not Use Dark Web Data. My Analysis of Their Code Tells a Different Story |author=Joshua |date=2025-12-11 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=NexaNet}}</ref>

==Background==

Flock Safety is an '''automated license plate recognition''' (ALPR) company founded in 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref name="flock-funding" /> The company manufactures solar-powered cameras that photograph passing vehicles and read their license plates using computer vision, operating in over 5,000 communities across 49 U.S. states as of 2025.<ref name="404media-nova" /> In March 2025, Flock raised $275 million at a $7.5 billion valuation led by Andreessen Horowitz.<ref name="flock-funding">{{Cite web |date=2025-03-13 |title=Accelerating Innovation: Flock Secures $275 Million to Advance Crime-Solving Technology |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-secures-major-funding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/64KcV |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

On February 13, 2025, Flock announced Nova, a data integration platform designed to combine ALPR data with records from computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems, records management systems (RMS), and open-source intelligence (OSINT) into a single searchable interface for law enforcement.<ref name="globenewswire-nova">{{Cite web |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/13/3025813/0/en/Flock-Safety-Reveals-the-Most-Expansive-AI-and-Data-Analysis-Toolset-for-Law-Enforcement-Including-Flock-Nova-A-New-Platform-To-Transform-Investigations.html |title=Flock Safety Reveals the Most Expansive AI and Data Analysis Toolset for Law Enforcement, Including Flock Nova |date=2025-02-13 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=GlobeNewsWire}}</ref> A Flock employee described the tool's capability: "You're going to be able to access data and jump from LPR to person and understand what that context is, link to other people that are related to that person [...] marriage or through gang affiliation, et cetera."<ref name="404media-nova" /> Internal communications indicated that Nova supported 20 different data sources that agencies could toggle on or off.<ref name="404media-nova" /> Flock said the tool was already being used by some law enforcement agencies in an early access program.<ref name="404media-nova" />

==Dark web data controversy==

On May 14, 2025, 404 Media published an investigation based on leaked meeting audio, Slack messages, and internal presentations from Flock Safety.<ref name="404media-nova" /> The report revealed that Flock employees had raised concerns about Nova incorporating data sourced from known data breaches.

One employee wrote in a Slack message: "I was pretty horrified to hear we use stolen data in our system. In addition to being attained illegally, it seems like that could create really perverse incentives."<ref name="404media-decision" /> In meeting audio obtained by 404 Media, an employee described three categories of data that would supplement Flock's ALPR records: data from breaches, commercially available data from credit bureaus, and public records.<ref name="404media-nova" />

The employee specifically cited the '''Parkmobile''' data breach as one source Nova would ingest. In March 2021, ParkMobile, a mobile parking payment app, suffered a breach that exposed the personal data of 21 million customers, including email addresses, phone numbers, license plate numbers, dates of birth, and mailing addresses.<ref name="krebs-parkmobile">{{Cite web |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/04/parkmobile-breach-exposes-license-plate-data-mobile-numbers-of-21m-users/ |title=ParkMobile Breach Exposes License Plate Data, Mobile Numbers of 21M Users |author=Brian Krebs |date=2021-04-12 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Krebs on Security}}</ref> That breach data appeared on a public hacking forum the following month.<ref name="krebs-parkmobile" /> ParkMobile later agreed to a $32.8 million class action settlement.<ref name="parkmobile-settlement">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/parkmobile-pays-1-each-for-2021-data-breach-that-hit-22-million/ |title=ParkMobile pays... $1 each for 2021 data breach that hit 22 million |date=2025-10-05 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref> The employee explained that Nova would ingest this data so that "we're now able to make that cognitive leap from LPR to person."<ref name="404media-nova" />

The employee also named credit bureaus Equifax and TransUnion as sources of commercially available data, noting that some companies repackage customer information and sell it to law enforcement or data brokers.<ref name="404media-nova" /> The third category, public records, included marriage licenses, property records, and campaign finance records. Nova would also pull from law enforcement RMS and CAD systems.<ref name="404media-nova" />

===Code analysis===

In December 2025, an independent analysis of Nova's front-end code found that the platform still contained an active "Dark Data" data source, contradicting Flock's public statements.<ref name="nexanet-code" /> The search configuration registered Dark Data with an API endpoint at <code>dark/getExtDarkData</code>, storing results in a <code>darkDocs</code> bucket gated by a <code>hasDarkDataAccess</code> permission flag.<ref name="nexanet-code" />

The code exposed a search interface with input fields for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, cryptocurrency wallet addresses, IP addresses, Discord and Telegram handles, and email addresses.<ref name="nexanet-code" /> API response columns included "Crawl Date," "Leak Name," "Leak Host," and "Download Location," terminology consistent with data breach aggregation rather than public records databases.<ref name="nexanet-code" /> Standard phone searches automatically called the Dark Data endpoint when permissions were enabled.<ref name="nexanet-code" />

===Flock Safety's response===

On May 30, 2025, Flock held an all-hands meeting where it told employees that Nova would not include dark web data.<ref name="404media-decision" /> An executive stated: "We took this concept of using dark web data in Nova and explored it... Then we ran it through our policy review process."<ref name="404media-decision" /> That same day, the company published a blog post titled "Correcting the Record: Flock Nova Will Not Supply Dark Web Data."<ref name="flock-blog">{{Cite web |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/correcting-the-record-flock-nova-will-not-supply-dark-web-data |title=Correcting the Record: Flock Nova Will Not Supply Dark Web Data |date=2025-05-30 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Flock Safety |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/8pT1g |archive-date=2026-03-18}}</ref>

Holly Beilin, Flock's Director of Communications, told GovTech: "We explored sourcing dark web data, but decided not to do so." She added that the leaked information "was reported prematurely, during the period when the team was still determining exactly what sources Nova would utilize."<ref name="govtech">{{Cite web |url=https://www.govtech.com/biz/flock-safety-pushes-back-on-data-breach-product-criticism |title=Flock Safety Pushes Back on Data Breach Product Criticism |author=Thad Rueter |date=2025-05-30 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=GovTech |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227114115/https://www.govtech.com/biz/flock-safety-pushes-back-on-data-breach-product-criticism |archive-date=2026-02-27}}</ref>

In its blog post, Flock stated that Nova would supply only public records, open-source intelligence, and license plate reader data.<ref name="flock-blog" /> Agencies could also connect their own RMS, CAD, and jail system data, as well as data from other agencies that agreed to share.<ref name="flock-blog" /> The company described a Policy Evaluation process led by its internal policy team of attorneys and product leaders, covering "legal, ethical, privacy, public opinion, and feasibility considerations."<ref name="flock-blog" /> Flock also stated that all actions within Nova are permanently recorded in an audit trail.<ref name="flock-blog" />

==Consumer response==

Multiple civil liberties organizations criticized the Nova platform after the 404 Media investigation.

Beryl Lipton, Senior Investigative Researcher at the '''Electric Frontier Foundation''' (EFF), told 404 Media: "Flock has hundreds of customers, both law enforcement and private residents. This development will certainly help to bring expanded surveillance powers to police departments of all sizes that never needed this much information on any random person who happens to drive by."<ref name="404media-nova" />

Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst at the '''ACLU'''<nowiki/>'s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, stated: "[At] this moment in history, of all times, you especially don't want to be building authoritarian spying structures for law enforcement." He added: "People are being literally put behind bars for writing an op-ed," referring to Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was detained by ICE on March 25, 2025, and held for approximately six weeks before a federal judge ordered her release on May 9, 2025, finding that her arrest appeared retaliatory for an op-ed she co-authored in a campus newspaper.<ref name="404media-nova" /><ref name="npr-ozturk">{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/05/09/nx-s1-5393055/tufts-student-rumeysa-ozturk-ordered-freed-from-immigration-detention |title=Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk released from immigration detention |date=2025-05-09 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=NPR}}</ref>

Michael Soyfer, an attorney at the '''Institute for Justice''', said: "Backed by billions of dollars in capital, it's working with police departments across the country to build out a massive database of people's movements and locations. All an officer or another government employee needs to do to access that database is type in a search, provide some generic reason, and hit enter." He added: "Flock's constant announcements of new and more invasive features just reinforces the need for a warrant requirement."<ref name="404media-nova" />

Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel at the ACLU, told 404 Media: "It is quite troubling that Flock ALPRs are designed to produce a massive overload of surveillance data by gathering and sharing ALPR data nationwide, and now they are marketing a product to help the police deal with the data overload they created."<ref name="404media-nova" />

===Congressional and legal response===

The Nova controversy coincided with growing congressional and legal scrutiny of Flock Safety. In November 2025, Senator '''Ron Wyden''' and Representative '''Raja Krishnamoorthi''' sent a letter to FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson urging an investigation into Flock's cybersecurity practices, citing the company's failure to require multi-factor authentication and the theft of at least 35 Flock customer accounts through infostealer malware.<ref name="wyden-ftc">{{Cite web |url=https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-senator-wyden-urge-ftc-investigate-surveillance |title=Congressman Krishnamoorthi, Senator Wyden Urge FTC to Investigate Surveillance Tech Companies |date=2025-11-03 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Office of U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi}}</ref> Earlier, in August 2025, Representatives Krishnamoorthi and Robert Garcia had launched a congressional investigation into Flock after reports that its ALPR data was being used for immigration enforcement and to track women crossing state lines for reproductive healthcare.<ref name="eff-2025-review">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/12/effs-investigations-expose-flock-safetys-surveillance-abuses-2025-review |title=EFF's Investigations Expose Flock Safety's Surveillance Abuses: 2025 in Review |date=2025-12-31 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref>

The EFF and ACLU of Northern California filed a lawsuit challenging the San Jose Police Department's use of Flock cameras, documenting 3,965,519 warrantless searches of the Flock database between June 2024 and June 2025.<ref name="eff-2025-review" /><ref name="eff-san-jose">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eff.org/press/releases/lawsuit-challenges-san-joses-warrantless-alpr-mass-surveillance |title=Lawsuit Challenges San Jose's Warrantless ALPR Mass Surveillance |date=2025-11-18 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref> In February 2026, Gibbs Mura filed a class action lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court alleging that Flock illegally shared California license plate data with federal and out-of-state agencies more than 1.6 million times, violating California's ALPR Privacy Act.<ref name="gibbs-mura">{{Cite web |url=https://www.classlawgroup.com/flock-safety-license-plate-reader-cameras-lawsuit |title=Flock Safety License Plate Reader Cameras Lawsuit |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Gibbs Mura, A Law Group}}</ref>

In October 2025, Amazon's Ring announced a partnership with Flock Safety that would allow Ring doorbell camera owners to share footage with law enforcement agencies using Flock's platforms through Ring's Community Requests program. The partnership was cancelled in February 2026 after public backlash.<ref name="ring-cancellation">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/amazons-ring-cancels-flock-partnership-amid-super-bowl-ad-backlash.html |title=Amazon's Ring cancels Flock partnership amid Super Bowl ad backlash |date=2026-02-12 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=CNBC}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Flock Safety]]
[[Category:Surveillance]]
[[Category:Privacy]]

Ryanair

2026-04-19T01:19:25Z

Neige:

{{stub}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1985
|Industry=Aviation
|ParentCompany=Ryanair Holdings
|Type=Public
|Website=https://www.ryanair.com
|Description=Ryanair is an Irish ultra-low-cost airline.
}}[[wikipedia:Ryanair|Ryanair]] is an Irish ultra-low-cost airline operating in over 40 countries.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Forced App-Downloads (November ''2025'')===
Starting November 12th, 2025, Ryanair requires passengers to install their app on their smart phones to use as a digital boarding pass.

Alternative, less invasive and more privacy friendly workflows, such as PDF files or the usual passes for Apple and Google Wallet as well as the countless compatible open-source alternatives from the F-Droid store are not supported.

Passengers have the option to manually request a currently free paper boarding pass at the airport after checking in online before. Simply printing their own or using a digital boarding pass without the Ryanair app is, however, not possible.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-11-11 |title=Ryanair tries forcing app downloads by eliminating paper boarding passes |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/ryanair-tries-forcing-app-downloads-by-eliminating-paper-boarding-passes/?comments-page=1#comments |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Ars Technica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251111214001/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/ryanair-tries-forcing-app-downloads-by-eliminating-paper-boarding-passes/?comments-page=1 |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>

Having an app installed on users' phones gives the company free advertising every time they see the icon on their homescreen, allows it to harvest significantly more data and enables it to send users advertising in the form of notifications.

At the time of writing, the iOS version of the app has a size of about 304 MB<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-03 |title=Ryanair App – App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ryanair/id504270602 |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Apple App Store |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116075340/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ryanair/id504270602 |archive-date=16 Nov 2025}}</ref> and the Android version about '''TODO'''.

According to the Exodus privacy project, the Android version of the app sends data to the following 9 tracking and advertising services and also requests access to the advertising ID of the device:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-09 |title=Report for com.ryanair.cheapflights 3.217.1 - εxodus |url=https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/com.ryanair.cheapflights/latest/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Exodus Privacy Project |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260103092108/https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/com.ryanair.cheapflights/latest/ |archive-date=3 Jan 2026}}</ref>

*Adobe Experience Cloud
*Facebook Analytics
*Facebook Share
*Google CrashLytics
*Google Firebase Analytics
*Google Tag Manager
*Inmobi
*Swrve

Users who use the app have to use something like the F-Droid version of [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] if they wish to prevent the app from contacting and sending personal data to these companies.

====Greenwashing====
The press release quotes the CEO that the measure would lead to "faster, smarter, and greener” travel. Saving resources in a mostly irrelevant area that barely contributes to the environmental impact is a [[Greenwashing|common strategy]] used by companies with a high resource footprint (such as Apple moving to more environmentally friendly packaging while the main product is still a repair-unfriendly disposable electronic item made with rare earth minerals). The vast majority of the emissions of an airline are generated by fuel combustion and energy consumption by the airports.

===Cheap prices with excessive surcharges===
TODO – see Wikipedia section on surcharges

===Misleading advertising regarding emissions===
TODO – see this BBC article<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hotten |first=Russell |date=2020-02-05 |title=Ryanair rapped over low emissions claims |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51372780 |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=BBC |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250603032045/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51372780 |archive-date=3 Jun 2025}}</ref>

===Safety concerns due to insufficiently fuelling of aircrafts===
TODO – find some good and reputable sources

==See also==
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

HP

2026-04-19T01:12:53Z

Neige:

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company known for business and home computers and printers.
|Founded=1939
|Industry=Information Technology, Electronics Manufacturing
|Logo=HP.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://hp.com/
}}
'''{{wplink|HP Inc.}}''' is an American multinational information technology company formed in 2015 as a successor to the {{wplink|Hewlett-Packard}} company founded in 1939 by {{wplink|Bill Hewlett}} and {{wplink|David Packard}}.

==HP Sub-Brands==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Sub-brand<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brand Central |url=https://www.hp.com/us-en/hp-information/brandcentral.html |url-status=live |website=[[HP Inc.]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204082322/https://www.hp.com/us-en/hp-information/brandcentral.html |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>
!Description
!Created/Acquired
|-
|OMEN
|High-end focused laptops and desktops lineup, former VoodooPC
|2013
|-
|[https://hyperx.com/ HyperX]
|High-end gaming peripherals
|2021
|-
|Z by HP
|Professional workstations and laptops
|2009
|-
|HP Wolf Security
|Security service to lock in and add anti-virus to HP laptops for remote offices<ref>{{Cite web |title=HP Wolf Security |url=https://www.hp.com/us-en/security/endpoint-security-solutions.html |url-status=live |website=[[HP Inc.]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260119091052/https://www.hp.com/us-en/security/endpoint-security-solutions.html |archive-date=19 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|2021
|-
|HP Anyware
|Service to create a seamless experience for teams to interact with their digital workspaces from virtually anywhere
|2021
|-
|Fitstation by HP
|Partnership to create personalized tech products like footwear, in 2024 HP took the Fitstation insole platform off the market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sher |first=Davide |date=18 May 2024 |title=HP silently took the Fitstation insole platform off the market |url=https://www.voxelmatters.com/hp-silently-took-the-fitstation-insole-platform-off-the-market/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126224837/https://www.voxelmatters.com/hp-silently-took-the-fitstation-insole-platform-off-the-market/ |archive-date=26 Jan 2025 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=VoxelMatters}}</ref>
|2017
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> HP Anyware was acquired in 2021 along with [[wikipedia:Teradici|Teradici]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jul 2021 |title=HP Inc. to Acquire Teradici |url=https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/press-releases/2021/hp-inc-to-acquire-teradici.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331150028/https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/press-releases/2021/hp-inc-to-acquire-teradici.html |archive-date=31 Mar 2025 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HP]]}}</ref>

==Consumer Impact Summary==
HP has implemented several controversial policies and practices that negatively impact consumers:

*Forcing customers to wait 15 minutes on support calls;
*Some printers requiring ink cartridges to be sufficiently filled to use scanning and faxing features, and scanning often mandating an HP account (see [[Forced account]]) and app (see [[Forced app download]]), sometimes even an internet connection;
*Firmware updates bricking devices;
*Instant Ink subscription service and Dynamic Security system, which respectively lock cartridges behind a subscription and restrict the use of aftermarket ones.
*Laptop Subscription service which takes ownership away from the device and locks the consumer into HP's terms for 1-year.

==Controversies==

===Removing support pages for older products (October 2025)===
HP started to remove support information, software downloads and documentation for older products, instead redirecting customers to community forums.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sebastian |first=Linus |date=2025-10-21 |title=HP Keeps Getting Worse |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNM_xUcYpK0 |access-date=2025-10-21 |website=Youtube – LMG Clips |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=VNM_xUcYpK0 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

This makes it difficult for users to keep using old products, reinstall driver software they may not have archived, or to set up an older device that was bought used and came without drivers.

===HP Adds 15 Minutes to All Customer Service Phone Calls===
{{Main|HP adds 15 minutes to all customer service phone calls}}
In February 2025, HP Inc. instituted a policy to artificially force all consumer PC & print customers to wait a minimum of 15 minutes when calling support. This policy pushes the callers towards the cheaper online support channels, an operation which HP Inc. calls influencing customers to "increase their adoption of digital self-solve".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kunert |first=Paul |date=20 Feb 2025 |title=HP deliberately adds 15 minutes waiting time for telephone support calls |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/20/hp_deliberately_adds_15_minutes/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251203190824/https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/20/hp_deliberately_adds_15_minutes/ |archive-date=3 Dec 2025}}</ref>

===Ink Required to Scan and Fax===
{{Main|HP Printers Ink Requirements Controversy}}
To use the scanning and faxing feature on some HP all-in-one printers, all cartridges must not be too low on ink.

===Account Required to Scan===
To use the scanning feature on some HP printers, both the HP app and a HP account are required, at times even an internet connection is also required.{{citation needed}}

An alternative would be to use Windows' in-built scan feature (albeit rudimentary, it should suffice for basic scanning) or 3rd party software / program such as [https://www.naps2.com/ NAPS2] (a free and open-source software).

===Firmware Updates Stop HP Printers from Working (Errors 79 and 49)===
An over-the-air update for some HP printer products (DeskJets and LaserJets) with network capabilities caused '''errors 79 and 49''' to be shown on the user interface of these devices, '''soft-locking''' the printers. In some instances, these faulty updates were not avoidable, because the "update" prompt had to be accepted to re-access the printer. First reports of this showed up in public around October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Born |first=Günter |date=17 Nov 2022 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |title=Okt. 2022 Firmware-Update macht HP-Drucker mit Error 49 oder 79 unbrauchbar |url=https://www.borncity.com/blog/2022/11/17/okt-2022-firmware-update-macht-hp-drucker-mit-service-error-49-unbrauchbar/ |website=Borns IT- und Windows-Blog |language=de |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207034451/https://www.borncity.com/blog/2022/11/17/okt-2022-firmware-update-macht-hp-drucker-mit-service-error-49-unbrauchbar/ |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |last=guenni |date=17 Nov 2022 |title=Oct. 2022 Firmware update bricks HP printer with Error 49 or 79 |url=https://borncity.com/win/2022/11/17/oct-2022-firmware-update-bricks-hp-printer-with-error-49-or-79/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316231850/https://borncity.com/win/2022/11/17/oct-2022-firmware-update-bricks-hp-printer-with-error-49-or-79/ |archive-date=16 Mar 2025 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Born's Tech and Windows World}}</ref>
In some cases, the devices could be recovered,<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Nov 2022 |title=Color LaserJet Pro MFP-M281fdw shows 49 Service Error after firmware update from 20th October |url=https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printing-Errors-or-Lights-Stuck-Print-Jobs/Color-LaserJet-Pro-MFP-M281fdw-shows-49-Service-Error-after/m-p/8540292/highlight/true#M962703 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HP]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708180500/https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printing-Errors-or-Lights-Stuck-Print-Jobs/Color-LaserJet-Pro-MFP-M281fdw-shows-49-Service-Error-after/m-p/8540292/highlight/true |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> but for an unknown number of users, '''no official nor unofficial fix was applicable'''. This effectively led to bricked devices that had to be replaced, often but not always, right after the warranty period had ended.

===HP Locks Printers if There Is a Failed Subscription Payment===
HP is known to push its average customer to its HP Instant-Ink subscription. If a monthly charge for the service fails to approve, the customer's printer will lock up with "Account Issues". An example can be found [https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/w9pjhp/hp_has_turned_their_printers_into_ransom_devices/ here]. The issue is usually to resolve a failed monthly charge. An additional example can be found [https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printers-Archive-Read-Only/ERROR-quot-A-problem-has-occurred-with-your-HP-account-and/td-p/8159470 here]. The user "'''koteol'''" finds that this is the exact problem with his printer and paying them the ('''$2.09''') for the failed payment resolves the issue and unlocks the error from the printer.

===EPEAT Violations for Disallowing Third-Party Cartridges===
In 2019, the '''International Imaging Technology Council''' (IITC) filed a complaint against HP over new firmware that shuts off their printers upon detecting a non-HP cartridge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibbons |first=David |date=2019-10-06 |title=Complaint Filed Over HP Firmware Lockout |url=https://www.rtmworld.com/news/complaint-filed-over-hp-firmware-lockout/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250807030050/https://www.rtmworld.com/news/complaint-filed-over-hp-firmware-lockout/ |archive-date=2025-08-07 |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=RTM World}}</ref> HP lists their affected devices as ''compliant'' with the '''Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool''' (EPEAT); however, one of the key provisions for devices to be given this eco-label requires the manufacturer to "allow use of non-manufacturer cartridges and non-manufacturer containers". The IITC claimed that these firmware lockouts were "outrageous" and that HP "shouldn't get to claim to adhere to a higher environmental standard" since recycled and remanufactured cartridges brick the devices.

On May 22, 2023, the IITC brought forward another complaint against HP for preventing the use of third-party ink cartridges while also ''claiming'' to be EPEAT-compliant.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2023-05-23 |title=Int’l Imaging Technology Council Brings Another Complaint Against HP Inc. over Firmware and Greenwashing |url=https://i-itc.org/intl-imaging-technology-council-brings-another-complaint-against-hp-inc-over-firmware-and-greenwashing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251202222750/https://i-itc.org/intl-imaging-technology-council-brings-another-complaint-against-hp-inc-over-firmware-and-greenwashing/ |archive-date=2025-12-02 |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=International Imaging Technology Council}}</ref> The IITC accused HP of violating the same provision as the last complaint which prohibits this. HP's datasheet for their '''OfficeJet Pro 9015e All-in-One printer''' labeled the product as EPEAT Silver compliant, while also claiming that it requires the "exclusive use of Original HP Ink cartridges for the life of the printer" as well as stating that "Cartridges using a non-HP chip may not function or may cease to function."<ref>{{Cite web |first= |title=HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e All-in-One Printer |url=https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=4aa7-8770enuc |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525122203/https://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/getpdf.aspx/4aa7-8770enuc.pdf |archive-date=2023-05-25 |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=www8.hp.com}}</ref> The IITC accused HP of [[greenwashing]] and asked the Global Electronics Council to review the EPEAT registrations for all of HP's HP+ and Dynamic Security printers.

===HP Reverb G2 discontinuation bricking===
{{Main|HP Reverb G2}}
The [[HP Reverb G2]] was bricked as part of the 24H2 update that [[Microsoft]] released.

===HP disables HEVC support built into their laptops' CPUs===
HP and [[Dell]] have disabled HEVC (H.264/H.265) hardware encoding and decoding support built into their laptops' CPUs using both Intel and AMD processors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-11-20 |title=HP and Dell disable HEVC support built into their laptops’ CPUs |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/hp-and-dell-disable-hevc-support-built-into-their-laptops-cpus/ |url-status=live |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>

==Products/Services==
===HP Instant Ink===
{{Main|HP Instant Ink}}

HP Instant Ink refers to a subscription service for certain printers in which recipients may receive a set amount of HP Ink Cartridges each month. It has recently come into controversy for changing into a program with various limiting features in 2024.

===HP Dynamic Security===
{{Main|HP Dynamic Security}}

HP Dynamic Security refers to a system in some HP printers to restrict the use of aftermarket ink cartridges, ensuring only original cartridges can be used. This includes locking customers out of using their printer if they purchase or attempt to use officially licensed and partnered ink-refill services, such as recycled cartridges sold by partner companies such as Best Buy, Walmart, and Office Depot.

===HP Laptop Subscription===
{{Main|HP Laptop Subscription}}

HP Laptop Subscription refers to a subscription service which offers customers access to HP's latest AI-powered laptops and additional benefits for a monthly fee. However, the customer never owns the laptop they receive and are locked into a 1-year commitment term if the consumer retains their subscription for more than the 30-day trial period, alongside additional caveats.

=References=
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:HP Inc.]]

Flock Safety

2026-04-19T00:29:27Z

Neige: Archived first 3 Flock Safety links with Ghost Archive. More is needed.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2017
|Industry=Surveillance Technology
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.flocksafety.com,
|Description=Flock Safety is an American surveillance technology company that develops and operates a mass surveillance system combining automated license plate readers (LPRs), video surveillance cameras, gunshot detection, drones, and data analytics platforms used by thousands of law enforcement agencies and private entities across the United States.
|Logo=Flock Safety Logo (2025).svg
}}

'''{{Wplink|Flock Safety}}''' is a technology company that creates and operates an extensive surveillance network using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and related technologies.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=23 Oct 2025 |title=Highlights from Denver's Flock camera town hall – Mayor didn't show up |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=1dkIiLWuXBE |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Flock was founded in 2017 by Georgia Tech alumni Garrett Langley (CEO), Matt Feury (CTO), and Paige Todd (CPO), beginning as a side project where they built their first surveillance cameras by hand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edmonson |first=Crystal |date=22 Aug 2023 |title=Flock Safety cameras help police amid worker shortage, CEO Garrett Langley says |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/08/22/flock-safety-ceo-garrett-langley-podcast.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}</ref> The company operates on a "surveillance as a service" business model, owning and maintaining camera infrastructure while charging recurring fees to law enforcement agencies, private communities, and businesses for access to its surveillance data and network.<ref name="FlockFunding">{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2025 |title=Accelerating Innovation: Flock Secures $275 Million to Advance Crime-Solving Technology |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-secures-major-funding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/64KcV |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref>

As of mid-2025, independent reporting and public records indicate the Flock network comprised more than 80,000 AI-enabled cameras nationwide.<ref name="Koebler2025">{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media |date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=29 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Flock's materials state deployments in roughly 5,000 communities, and the company reports the system processes "over 20 billion" vehicle scans per month; these latter two figures are company-provided and should be read as Flock's claims rather than independently verified totals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2025 |title=City Leaders Choose Flock Safety: A Proven, Community-Focused Public Safety Solution |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/city-leaders-choose-flock-safety-a-proven-community-focused-public-safety-solution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mQzuY |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Real-Time Vehicle Leads, Nationwide |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/national-lpr-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/mJ8nZ |archive-date=18 April 2026 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |website=Flock Safety}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=FlockOS |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-os |website=Flock Safety |date= |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221144/https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-os |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

The company reported surpassing roughly $300 million in annual recurring revenue. In March 2025, it closed a $275 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, which independent reporting estimated valued the company at about $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hu |first=Krystal |title=US startup Flock Safety raises $275 million to fund manufacturing plant, R&D |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-startup-flock-safety-raises-275-million-fund-manufacturing-plant-rd-2025-03-13/ |website=Reuters |date=13 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/JaV0t |archive-date=13 Mar 2025}}</ref> As of 2025, the company has raised a total of $957.5 million in funding.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=MacBride |first=Elizabeth |title=Flock Safety: 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |website=CNBC |date=10 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612102045/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/flock-safety-cnbc-disruptor-50.html |archive-date=12 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
===Privacy===
Critics, including civil liberties organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that Flock's mass surveillance network violates privacy rights and represents a form of constant public monitoring that differs fundamentally from traditional, fleeting police observation.<ref name="ACLUStanley">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock's Aggressive Expansions Go Far Beyond Simple Driver Surveillance |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=18 Aug 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819025249/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup |archive-date=19 Aug 2025}}</ref> A lawsuit filed in 2024 challenges the constitutionality of warrant-less searches of ALPR databases; courts have split on the issue in different jurisdictions, and rulings continue to be appealed. For example, a federal complaint in ''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (E.D. Va.) alleges repeated location logging by ALPRs, while appellate activity in related Virginia cases continued into 2025. Readers should consult the cited court documents and reporting for further developments.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Collier |first=Kevin |title=Police cameras tracked one driver 526 times in four months, lawsuit says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |website=NBC News |date=18 Sep 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918133508/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Flock Applauds Virginia Court of Appeals Ruling Affirming Constitutionality of LPR Cameras |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-applauds-virginia-court-of-appeals-ruling-affirming-constitutionality-of-lpr-cameras |website=Flock Safety |date=14 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221255/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-applauds-virginia-court-of-appeals-ruling-affirming-constitutionality-of-lpr-cameras |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The system does not offer a public opt-out mechanism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement |url=https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |website=University of Washington Center for Human Rights
|date=21 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251113234912/https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/ |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> This raised concerns about the potential for misuse, profiling, and long-term monitoring of individuals and their associations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Sarah |last2=Alajaji |first2=Rindala |title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=27 Jun 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628052030/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe |archive-date=28 Jun 2025}}</ref>

Specific privacy violations include:
*Warrant-less tracking and data sharing: Flock's business model enables a nationwide data-sharing network that allows thousands of law enforcement agencies to access location data without warrants or reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.<ref name="ACLUStanley" />

*Expanded audio surveillance: In 2025, Flock announced that its Raven gunshot detection systems would begin listening for "human distress" sounds, such as screaming, expanding beyond gunshot detection to voice monitoring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guariglia |first=Matthew |title=Flock's Gunshot Detection Microphones Will Start Listening for Human Voices
|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=2 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251029213640/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices |archive-date=29 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Undermining state shield laws: Despite state laws protecting healthcare access, out-of-state officers from jurisdictions that criminalize abortion or gender-affirming care can access Flock data on residents of protective states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maass |first=Dave |title=Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007134746/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref>

*Immigration enforcement: Research from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights documented systematic access to Flock data by federal immigration authorities, often in violation of state laws.<ref name=":0" /> This occurred through three methods: "front door" access, where agencies directly shared data with Border Patrol; "back door" access via a default "National Lookup" setting that granted federal access without explicit local authorization; and "side door" searches where local officers ran searches on behalf of ICE.<ref name=":0" />

*Contractual privacy overreach: The ACLU of Massachusetts found that Flock's default service agreement grants the company a "worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free" license to disclose agency data for "investigative purposes," even if a local police department has chosen to restrict data-sharing with other agencies.<ref name="ACLUStanley2">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=Flock Can Share Driver-Surveillance Data Even When Police Departments Opt Out, And Other Flock Developments |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |website=American Civil Liberties Union |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024234020/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Business model===
Flock Safety operates on a subscription-based "safety-as-a-service" model.<ref name="Sacra">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety revenue, growth rate & funding |url=https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |website=Sacra |url-access=limited |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251123150450/https://sacra.com/c/flock-safety/ |archive-date=23 Nov 2025}}</ref> The company charges approximately $2,500 per camera annually, plus a one-time installation fee.<ref name="Sacra" /> This subscription includes maintenance, software updates, and data hosting. Forbes reported in 2025 that a single license plate reader camera costs between $3,000 and $3,500, with additional fees for the FlockOS platform.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=AI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In America |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |website=Forbes |date=3 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903144312/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref> This model has proven highly successful, with the company reporting over $300 million in annual recurring revenue as of 2024, reflecting a 70% year-over-year increase.<ref name="FlockFunding" />

Flock's AI-enabled cameras capture detailed vehicle "[[Device fingerprint|fingerprints]]" — including make, model, color, bumper stickers, damages, and other distinguishing characteristics — in addition to license plates,<ref name=":4" /> with footage retained for thirty days before deletion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Flock Safety Eliminates Neighborhood Crime While Protecting Resident Privacy |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/how-flock-safety-protects-resident-privacy |website=Flock Safety |date=11 Mar 2019 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221357/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/how-flock-safety-protects-resident-privacy |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The company's network benefits from strong network effects. Investor Andreessen Horowitz has stated the system's power grows with adoption, as "digital evidence can be pooled across different law enforcement agencies," creating network effects that increase surveillance capabilities as more agencies join.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulevitch
|first=David |last2=George |first2=David |title=Investing in Flock Safety |url=https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |website=Andreessen Horowitz |date=13 Jul 2021 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928171419/https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-flock-safety/ |archive-date=28 Sep 2023}}</ref> As cameras are deployed across more jurisdictions, participating agencies gain access to a broader shared data pool.

Flock initially focused on homeowner's associations — which still account for roughly 40% of its business — before expanding rapidly into law enforcement and enterprise sectors, illustrating a "land-and-expand" growth strategy.<ref name="Sacra" /> Major venture capital firms have invested heavily, signaling strong market confidence. In March 2025, a funding round of $275 million was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Green Oaks Capital, Bedrock Capital, and Tiger Global, among others, valuing the company at $7.5 billion.<ref name="FlockFunding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pavri |first=Rezwan D. |last2=Conklin |first2=Colin G. |title=Wilson Sonsini Advises Flock Safety on $275 Million Financing |url=https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |website=Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati |date=14 Mar 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315234904/https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/wilson-sonsini-advises-flock-safety-on-dollar275-million-financing.html |archive-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> Major corporate clients include retailers like {{Wplink|Lowe's}} and {{Wplink|FedEx}}, mall operator {{Wplink|Simon Property Group}}, and healthcare provider {{Wplink|Kaiser Permanente}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=America's Biggest Mall Owner Is Sharing AI Surveillance Feeds Directly With Cops |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |website=Forbes |date=6 May 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203012902/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/05/06/simon-property-and-flock-safety-feed-ai-surveillance-feeds-to-the-cops/ |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |title=FedEx's Secretive Police Force Is Helping Cops Build An AI Car Surveillance Network |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |website=Forbes |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128023325/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/06/19/fedex-police-help-cops-build-an-ai-car-surveillance-network/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Strategic acquisitions and infrastructure investment fuel the company's expansion. Following its acquisition of Aerodome in October 2024, Flock Safety is building a 100,000-square-foot U.S.A. manufacturing facility for drone production.<ref name=":1" />

==Surveillance technology==
{{Main|Flock license plate readers}}

Flock Safety offers an integrated ecosystem of surveillance hardware and software marketed as a public safety platform.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Product Hub |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/products |website=Flock Safety |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221459/https://www.flocksafety.com/products |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The hardware component includes solar-powered ALPRs;<ref name=":2" /> video cameras with AI-powered analytics for people and vehicle detection;<ref name=":2" /> acoustic sensors that identify gunshots and breaking glass for real-time alerts;<ref name=":2" /> and drones acquired through Aerodome for "drone as first responder" systems automatically dispatched to emergency calls.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Expands Into Drones |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |website=Flock Safety |date=17 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221554/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-safety-expands-into-drones-for-law-enforcement-with-acquisition-of-aerodome |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Specific product models include the Falcon and Sparrow license plate readers, as well as the Raven gunshot detection system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz-Lecabe |first=Mike |title=Dissection of Flock Safety Camera |url=https://www.chrp.org/blog/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera |website=The Center for Human Rights and Privacy |date=1 Apr 2022 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430151222/https://www.cehrp.org/dissection-of-flock-safety-camera/ |archive-date=30 Apr 2022}}</ref> Flock's software integrates with police vehicle systems, including widely-used {{Wplink|Axon Enterprise|Axon}} dashcams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axon Partners with Flock Safety to Enhance Security for Cities and Neighborhoods |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |website=PR Newswire |date=2 Apr 2020 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404123408/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axon-partners-with-flock-safety-to-enhance-security-for-cities-and-neighborhoods-301033947.html |archive-date=4 Apr 2020}}</ref>

The software platform includes FlockOS, a real-time crime center platform that enables users to view maps and geographic data, body camera and drone feeds, 911 call data, as well as traffic camera and acoustic sensor data.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Evolution of FlockOS: How Customer Feedback Continues to Shape the Future |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/the-evolution-of-flockos-how-customer-feedback-continues-to-shape-the-future |website=Flock Safety |date=5 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221633/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/the-evolution-of-flockos-how-customer-feedback-continues-to-shape-the-future
|archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> FlockOS enables the National LPR Network, a nationwide database for sharing and searching LPR data across jurisdictions; and Flock Nova, a data analytics platform that integrates LPR data with law enforcement systems, such as Records Management Systems (RMS) and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), to identify patterns.<ref name=":2" />

==Incidents==
===The FBI is accused in pending lawsuit to use Flock data to "create a domestic terrorist" (February 2026)===
In a recent reporting by LegalEagle on Youtube https://youtu.be/ZRZoGc3Wdpo?t=1138 at timestamp 18:58, court documents are shown where law enforcement collects 30 days of movements from Flock cameras (after the fact) in efforts to "construct the appearance the person is a domestic terrorist". The release of this footage was denied to ensure people not know where the cameras are in order to avoid them. This was a part of the ICE operation "Midway Blitz".
===Wrongful package theft accusation in Bow Mar, Colorado (September 2025)===
On 27 September 2025, Columbine Valley Police Sgt. Jamie Milliman wrongfully accused Denver resident Chrisanna Elser of package theft, relying exclusively on Flock Safety license plate reader data that placed her vehicle in Bow Mar during the robbery.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Andrew |title=Police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of package theft. She had her own evidence |url=https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |website=Denverite |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028180112/https://denverite.com/2025/10/27/bow-mar-flock-cameras-accusation/ |archive-date=28 Oct 2025}}</ref> The officer asserted "zero doubt" about her guilt, telling her verbatim, "It is locked in. There is zero doubt. I wouldn't have come here unless I was 100% sure." He also bragged about the extensive surveillance network, stating "You can't get a breath of fresh air, in or out of that place, without us knowing."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Prentzel |first=Olivia |title=After police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of theft, she had to prove her own innocence |url=https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |website=The Colorado Sun |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112221400/https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/ |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> When Elser denied the accusation, Milliman refused to show her the supposed evidence, stating, "You have not been honest with me, so I'm not going to extend you any courtesy of showing you a video when I don't need to."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coon |first=Anna |title=Police use Flock cameras to wrongfully accuse Denver woman of theft |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |website=KDVR |date=28 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103031304/https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-use-flock-cameras-to-wrongfully-accuse-denver-woman-of-theft/ |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> Elser was compelled to compile extensive exculpatory evidence, including dashcam footage, Google Timeline data, witness statements, and surveillance images from her tailor. She ultimately submitted a seven-page affidavit and a voluminous Google Drive folder to prove her innocence.<ref name=":5" /> The summons was voided several weeks later after Police Chief Bret Cottrell reviewed her evidence, writing, "After reviewing the evidence you have provided (nicely done btw), we have voided the summons that was issued." However, the department provided neither an apology nor an explanation.<ref name=":6" />

===Denver contract and surveillance controversy (October 2025 ongoing)===
On 22 October 2025, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unilaterally renewed the city's contract with Flock Safety through an emergency executive order just hours before a town hall protest, after the Denver City Council had unanimously rejected the contract 12-0.<ref name="cbsdenver">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Chierstin |title=Some on the Denver City Council upset after Mayor Mike Johnston moves forward with controversial Flock cameras |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |website=CBS News Colorado |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030171650/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/flock-camera-denver-city-council-mayor/ |archive-date=30 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name="coloradopolitics">{{Cite web |last=Grigsby |first=Deborah |title=Anger grows as Denver mayor extends Flock camera contract |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |website=Colorado Politics |date=23 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024231906/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/23/anger-grows-as-denver-mayor-extends-flock-camera-contract/ |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> The council's rejection was due to a lack of guardrails around data access and privacy concerns.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> The mayor's move, described by Councilwoman Shontel Lewis as "'king' behavior," bypassed the democratic process and sparked immediate public backlash.<ref name="cbsdenver" /> A town hall protest organized by consumer advocate Louis Rossmann drew close to 700 attendees, filling a main conference room and overflow spaces.<ref name="coloradopolitics" /><ref name=":7" /> Rossmann had also published a guide for residents to oppose the cameras.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=A guide to de‑flocking Denver: here's EXACTLY what you need to do, step‑by‑step. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |website=[[YouTube]] |date=20 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |type=Video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=cxJIp_4RaWk |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> The new, no-cost five-month extension included new safeguards, such as a $100,000 fine on Flock for any unauthorized data sharing and cutting off access for all jurisdictions outside of the Denver Police Department.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" /> The mayor's office cited the technology's role in recovering stolen vehicles and solving homicides, while critics remained concerned about executive overreach and the system's potential for misuse.<ref name="cbsdenver" /><ref name="coloradopolitics" />

===Data sharing with federal immigration authorities (Ongoing)===
Federal immigration enforcement agencies systematically accessed Flock's license plate data through multiple methods despite state laws prohibiting such sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler
|first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows |url=https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |website=404 Media |date=27 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527141200/https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/ |archive-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> This included direct "front door" access where at least eight Washington law enforcement agencies enabled 1:1 data sharing with the U.S. Border Patrol,<ref name=":0" /> "back door" access where Border Patrol searched data from at least ten Washington police departments without explicit authorization,<ref name=":0" /> and "side door" searches where local officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" into search fields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |title=CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide |url=https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |website=404 Media
|date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825211512/https://www.404media.co/cbp-had-access-to-more-than-80-000-flock-ai-cameras-nationwide/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Internal Flock data revealed that CBP had access to more than 80,000 cameras nationwide, with searches conducted in multiple states, potentially violating state sanctuary laws.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=John |title=License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies among investigation concerns |url=https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |website=ABC7 |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827010855/https://abc7.com/post/flock-safety-license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns-including-il/17653876/ |archive-date=27 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Investigation of abortion seeker (May 2025)===
A Johnson County, Texas sheriff's officer conducted a nationwide surveillance operation using Flock Safety's network to track a woman who had a self-managed abortion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion |url=https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |website=404 Media |date=29 May 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529181049/https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/ |archive-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> The search spanned 6,809 different Flock networks and queried data from over 83,000 cameras across multiple states.<ref name=":0" /> The officer specifically searched Flock camera data from Yakima and Prosser, Washington, accessing surveillance data from jurisdictions where abortion is legally protected to investigate someone from a restrictive state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime |url=https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |website=404 Media |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007135454/https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> While police initially claimed the surveillance was for the woman's "safety," internal documents revealed the case was officially logged as a "death investigation" and detectives had consulted the district attorney about charging the woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Gideon |title=Flock Gives Law Enforcement All Over the Country Access to Your Location |url=https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |website=ACLU Massachusetts |date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018052911/https://data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/flock-gives-law-enforcement-all-over-the-country-access-to-your-location/ |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> The incident sparked a congressional investigation and led to multiple jurisdictions re-evaluating their Flock contracts over concerns about reproductive rights surveillance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Jay |title=I'm Hearing About More Pushback Against Flock, Fueled by Concern Over Anti-Immigrant Uses |url=https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |website=ACLU |date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821161654/https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-pushback |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Paused federal pilots and systemic data sharing with federal agencies (August 2025)===
Flock Safety announced it was pausing all ongoing pilot programs with Department of Homeland Security agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Langley |first=Garrett |title=Ensuring Local Compliance |url=https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/ensuring-local-compliance |website=Flock Safety |date=25 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221731/https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/ensuring-local-compliance |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The company stated this pause was to "ensure local compliance" and admitted its previous public statements had "inadvertently provided inaccurate information" about the level of federal access to its network.<ref name=":3" />

This decision followed investigations revealing systemic data sharing with federal immigration authorities that potentially violated state laws in Washington, Illinois, and other states with sanctuary protections.<ref name=":0" /> A University of Washington Center for Human Rights report documented three methods of federal access:

*Front door access: At least eight Washington law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Yakima and Wenatchee, enabled direct data sharing with U.S. Border Patrol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee">{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Jordan |title=Flock Safety setting allowed U.S. Border Patrol access to Wenatchee Valley license plate data without police knowledge |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |website=The Wenatchee World |date=27 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103210114/https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/flock-safety-setting-allowed-u-s-border-patrol-access-to-wenatchee-valley-license-plate-data/article_8335941e-161c-594d-bc51-a56e0bd7251b.html |archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref>

*Back door access: A default "National Lookup" setting allowed Border Patrol to access data from at least ten Washington agencies without explicit authorization. Police chiefs in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee stated they were unaware of this setting and disabled it upon discovery.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wenatchee" />

*Side door searches: Law enforcement officers conducted searches on behalf of ICE, visible only when officers typed reasons like "ICE" or "illegal immigration" into search fields.<ref name=":0" /> A public interest law firm noted Flock's pause of direct federal access does little to prevent this workaround, as "federal law enforcement cannot directly access this trove of information; they can just ask other Flock customers to run searches or share log-in information."<ref name="ij">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Dan |title=Public Interest Law Firm Responds to Flock Safety Pausing Federal Access to License Plate Reader Cameras |url=https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |website=Institute for Justice |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925231824/https://ij.org/press-release/public-interest-law-firm-responds-to-flock-safety-pausing-federal-access-to-license-plate-reader-cameras/ |archive-date=25 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Consumer complaints about business practices===
Multiple independent user reviews on {{Wplink|Trustpilot}}, as well as reports from legal advocacy groups, detail a range of consumer complaints against Flock Safety. These issues span predatory billing practices, unreliable hardware, inadequate customer support, and concerns over the value and ethics of the service.

*Predatory billing and contract issues: Customers report aggressive auto-renewal practices. One review alleges the company sent termination notices to the incorrect party and then enforced an auto-renewed two-year contract for nearly $10,000, demanding payment because the customer did not provide a thirty-day termination notice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiala |first=Steven |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steven Fiala on 1/8/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |website=Trustpilot |date=8 Jan 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108013844/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/677ef12bc84c2a5269f7cb9c |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer claimed the company would not offer a refund for cameras they found to be useless, describing the system as a "rip off."<ref name="TrustPilot RR">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Ruben |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Ruben Rodriguez on 10/13/2023 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |website=Trustpilot |date=13 Oct 2023 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108014407/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65292d1cd90a6358742b453b |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> The Institute for Justice has raised concerns that Flock tries to "lock customers into its products."<ref name="ij" />

*Poor camera reliability and performance: Reviews frequently cite hardware failures and poor video quality. One neighborhood reported that a camera, costing $4,000 per year, was operational for only nine days before failing and had been offline for 25% of its total service time.<ref name="TrustPilot SE">{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Steve |title=Flock Safety reviewed by Steve Elliott on 6/20/2025 |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |website=Trustpilot |date=20 Jun 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108020837/https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68553b4c0981a42b5f818398 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> Another customer complained that the cameras are "not live" and lack night vision, concluding that a "$300 video camera system from Harbor Freight is 100% better."<ref name="TrustPilot RR" />

*Inadequate customer support: Numerous complaints have been made about poor customer service, particularly among smaller communities and organizations. One reviewer felt that the company is "focused on big city/county government contracts" and that "little guys are at the back of the line for support."<ref name="TrustPilot SE" /> The company's profile on TrustPilot indicates that it has not replied to negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flock Safety Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |website=TrustPilot |date= |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108022250/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/flocksafety.com |archive-date=8 Jan 2026 |quote=Hasn’t replied to negative reviews}}</ref>

*Ethical and legal concerns: Some criticisms extend beyond business practices to the product's societal impact. Major civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have published analyses raising significant privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley" /> The ACLU has also published analyses raising considerable privacy concerns about the technology.<ref name="ACLUStanley2" />

==Lawsuits==
===''Schmidt v. City of Norfolk'' (18 September 2025)===
A lawsuit in Norfolk, VA, revealed that the city's ALPR system has logged the location of a plaintiff's vehicle 526 times in 4 months.<ref name=":9" /> The second plaintiff had their vehicle's position logged 849 times in a similar time period. The ALPR system is provided by Flock to the Norfolk Police Department in a deal costing $2.2 million, in return for Flock providing services through to the end of 2027. The camera installation began in 2023 and, at present, there are 176 cameras around the city. The lawsuit is requesting that the plaintiff's data be deleted and the cameras be turned off, arguing that these actions constitute an infringement of the Fourth Amendment and a warrant-less search. Flock counters this assertion by claiming that "LPRs do not constitute a warrant-less search because they take point-in-time photos of cars in public and cannot continuously track the movements of any individual." This legal position was supported by a ruling from the Virginia Court of Appeals in October 2025, which reversed a lower court and found that warrant-less use of Flock's system does not violate the Fourth Amendment.<ref name=":10" />

===''United States v. Martin'' (11 October 2024)===
In ''United States v. Martin'' (E.D. Va.), the district court denied a motion to suppress evidence obtained via an ALPR network, issuing a memorandum opinion on 11 October 2024. The court concluded that the images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles on public roads and therefore did not establish a reasonable expectation of privacy for purposes of the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Robert E. |title=MEMORANDUM OPINION, United States v. Martin, No. 3:23-cr-150 (E.D. Va. Oct. 11, 2024) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |url-access=limited |website=vLex |date=11 Oct 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108024629/https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/united-states-v-martin-1056100094 |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref> 

Legal commentators have treated the ruling as a persuasive decision supporting warrant-less searches of ALPR/Flock databases in that jurisdiction; however, it remains a district-court decision and not binding precedent outside the Eastern District of Virginia. Courts in other jurisdictions have reached different conclusions on the warrant requirements for ALPR searches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grosdidier |first=Pierre |title=Authorities can search Flock databases without a warrant |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |website=Texas Bar Journal |date=Apr 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418012511/https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67513 |archive-date=18 Apr 2025}}</ref>

===Public records lawsuits in Washington (2025)===
Multiple public-records disputes over Flock camera data have led to litigation in Washington. In one high-profile example, the cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood filed a declaratory-judgment action in Skagit County (Case No. 25-2-00717-29), asking a court to declare that images and data stored in Flock's AWS cloud are not "public records" under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA) unless and until a public agency accesses and downloads them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guildner |first=Emily |title=City of Sedro-Woolley and City of Stanwood v. Jose Rodriguez — Complaint for Declaratory Judgment |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |website=Scribd |date=16 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222221830/https://www.scribd.com/document/901263718/City-of-Sedro-Woolley-v-Jose-Rodriguez-Complaint-for-Declaratory-Judgement |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> The dispute became contested in multiple forums after the requester filed his own suit and responsive filings, alleging that the cities had violated the PRA. While the litigation proceeds, some municipalities have paused or disabled Flock camera deployments pending a judicial ruling on whether the raw images and data must be released as public records.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jenna |title=Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |website=HeraldNet |date=10 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911213648/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-pauses-flock-cameras-amid-public-records-lawsuits/ |archive-date=11 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Norfolk Circuit Court warrant requirement (2024-2025)===
In June 2024, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge granted a defendant's motion to suppress evidence obtained from the city's Flock ALPR system, ruling that, in that case, warrant-less access to the system implicated the Fourth Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Katie |title=Norfolk judge rejects police Flock camera evidence without warrant |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |website=The Virginian-Pilot |date=15 Jun 2024 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702005515/https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/06/15/one-nation-under-watch-norfolk-judge-rejects-police-flock-camera-evidence-without-warrant/ |archive-date=2 Jul 2024}}</ref>

That trial-court ruling was later reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals in ''Commonwealth v. Church'' in Oct 2025, which concluded the circuit court erred and held that the ALPR images at issue were point-in-time photographs of vehicles in public and therefore did not require a search warrant; the appellate court reversed the suppression and remanded for further proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beales |first=Randolph A. |title=Commonwealth v. Ronnie D. Church, No. 0737-25-1 (Va. Ct. App. Oct. 2025) (unpublished opinion) |url=https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |website=Virginia Court System |date=14 Oct 2025 |access-date=7 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251028232244/https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opncavwp/0737251.pdf |archive-date=28 Oct 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://deflock.me/ DeFlock: ALPR Location Map]
*[https://www.noalprs.org/ No ALPRs: Advocacy Group]
*[https://www.eff.org/issues/license-plate-readers EFF: License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/aclu-works-stop-license-plate-reader-surveillance ACLU: License Plate Reader Surveillance]
*[https://www.wired.com/tag/automated-license-plate-readers/ Wired: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.vice.com/en/topic/automated-license-plate-readers Vice: Automated License Plate Readers]
*[https://www.technologyreview.com/tag/surveillance/ MIT Technology Review: Surveillance]
*[https://www.flock-restrictions.org/ Flock Restrictions: Policy Tracking]
*[https://www.urban.org/features/how-police-use-technology Urban Institute: Police Technology Use]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

The Coca-Cola Company

2026-04-18T23:59:53Z

Neige: Wikipedia link

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Multiple sections need to either be completed or simply written. These are clearly labeled within the article.}}{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1892-01-29
|Industry=Beverage
|Logo=Coca-Cola Company logo.svg
|Type=Public
|Website=https://www.coca-colacompany.com/
|Description=The Coca-Cola company is a beverage company known for its consolidation of roughly 1/3 of the beverage market, and corporate lobbying/bribery.
}}

'''[[wikipedia:The_Coca-Cola_Company|The Coca-Cola Company]]''' is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. It is most commonly known for the product that is the namesake of the company "Coca-Cola", however it sells other beverages underneath various brands such as Sprite, Barq's, and Powerade. Since its founding, it has acquired dozens of companies and brands, consolidating roughly 44.9% of the greater beverage industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dey |first=Maitrayee |date=Dec 8, 2025 |editor-last=Jambhale |editor-first=Rohan |title=Coca-Cola Statistics By Revenue, Brand Valuation, Sales and Facts |url=https://electroiq.com/stats/coca-cola-statistics/ |archive-url= |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |website=ElectroIQ}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Incomplete section}}

*'''User freedom''':
*'''User privacy''':
*'''Business model''': Primarily beverage sales
*'''Market control''': Commands the largest portion of the beverage industry, shared with [[PepsiCo]] and [[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]].

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Skewing health research data===
Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220318161329/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |archive-date=18 Mar 2022}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251101083757/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |archive-date=1 Nov 2025}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220625193400/https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets |archive-date=25 Jun 2022}}</ref>

===Vitamin Water Lawsuit (''2009'')===
In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 Jan 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=28 Jul 2012 |access-date=20 Jan 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of {{Wplink|Vitamin Water}}. Claims say that the 33 grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=16 Jan 2013 |access-date=20 Jan 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 Jan 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=20 Jan 2026 |website=NBC News |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241208053305/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |archive-date=8 Dec 2024}}</ref>

===Mislabeling Minute Maid products (''2014'')===
In the case ''POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca-Cola Co.'', POM Wonderful unsuccessfully argued that Minute Maid was mislabeling its pomegranate and blueberry juices due to the products containing 99.4% apple/grape juices.

===Water usage===
{{Incomplete section}}

===Pollution===
As the single largest plastic polluter in the world, Coca-Cola Co. has a history of [[greenwashing]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williment |first=Chloe |date=24 June 2025 |title=Which Top Brands are Linked with Global Plastic Pollution? |url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/which-top-brands-are-linked-with-global-plastic-pollution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251128171809/https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/which-top-brands-are-linked-with-global-plastic-pollution |archive-date=28 Nov 2025 |access-date=18 April 2026 |website=sustainabilitymag}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=THE WHY |date=27 Feb 2025 |title=Coca-Cola's Plastic Promises⎜WHY PLASTIC?⎜(Full documentary) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mplIapcCrY8&t=140s |url-status=live |access-date=18 April 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>{{Incomplete section}}

===Anti-competitive practices===
{{Incomplete section}}

==Products==

;Beverages
*Coca-Cola
*Sprite
*Minute Maid
*Barq's
*Powerade

;Machinery
*Coke Freestyle Machine
*BreakMate

==See also==
*[[PepsiCo]]
*[[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Greenwashing

2026-04-18T19:14:07Z

Neige: Company links

{{StubNotice}}

'''{{Wplink|Greenwashing}}''' is a form of advertising or marketing that deceptively uses social and environmental public relations (PR) in order to persuade the public, investors, and consumers that a company's products, goals, or policies are environmentally-friendly. Companies that intentionally adopt greenwashing strategies often do so to distance themselves from their environmental lapses or those of their suppliers.
<blockquote>Their [Shell's] glitzy advertisements can no longer conceal their climate criminal behaviour – polluting the planet, raking in record profits, and sanitising their own image to continue the climate-wrecking cycle.</blockquote>
— former Green Party MP, United Kingdom, Caroline Lucas<ref name=":1" />

==History of the Term==
While the term itself was coined in a 1986 essay about the hotel industry's "save the towel" movement,<ref>{{Cite web |first=Jim |last=Motavalli |title=A History of Greenwashing: How Dirty Towels Impacted the Green Movement |url=https://www.aol.com/2011-02-12-the-history-of-greenwashing-how-dirty-towels-impacted-the-green.html |website=AOL |date=12 Feb 2011 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822081337/https://www.aol.com/2011-02-12-the-history-of-greenwashing-how-dirty-towels-impacted-the-green.html |archive-date=22 Aug 2024}}</ref> the practice has been traced back to the 1950s with the "keep America beautiful" campaign that places the burden of reducing and recycling litter onto the consumer and shifts the focus away from corporate responsibility.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Business-Managed Environment — Front Groups — Keep America Beautiful |url=https://www.herinst.org/BusinessManagedDemocracy/environment/fronts/KAB.html |website=herinst.org |date=2009 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225224843/https://www.herinst.org/BusinessManagedDemocracy/environment/fronts/KAB.html |archive-date=25 Feb 2012}}</ref>

==Notable examples==
*[[BP]]-post-Gulf oil spill advertisements<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |first=Ria |last=Kakkad |title=Is BP’s latest campaign nothing more than 'sophisticated greenwashing'? |url=https://www.sustainability-beat.co.uk/2023/09/15/bp-greenwashing/ |website=Sustainability / Beat |date=15 Sep 2023 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208053401/https://www.sustainability-beat.co.uk/2023/09/15/bp-greenwashing/ |archive-date=8 Dec 2023}}</ref>
*[[The Coca-Cola Company]] - continuation of the "keep America beautiful" movement<ref name=":0" />
*[[Volkswagen]] - emissions scandal<ref>{{Cite web |first=Jeff |last=Plungis |title=Volkswagen emissions scandal: Forty years of greenwashing - the well-travelled road taken by VW |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/business/analysis-and-features/volkswagen-emissions-scandal-forty-years-of-greenwashing-the-welltravelled-road-taken-by-vw-10516209.html |website=The Independent
|date=25 Sep 2015 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405063138/https://www.the-independent.com/news/business/analysis-and-features/volkswagen-emissions-scandal-forty-years-of-greenwashing-the-welltravelled-road-taken-by-vw-10516209.html |archive-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref>
*[[Shell]] - misleading advertisements implying that Shell was more green than was actually the case<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meredith |first=Sam |date=7 Jun 2023 |title=Oil giant Shell’s UK ad campaign banned for being ‘likely to mislead’ consumers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/07/oil-shells-uk-ad-campaign-banned-for-misleading-consumers.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618174208/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/07/oil-shells-uk-ad-campaign-banned-for-misleading-consumers.html |archive-date=18 Jun 2023 |access-date=21 Jul 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

The Coca-Cola Company

2026-04-18T19:08:39Z

Neige: Pollution. Can't archive 1 hour long YouTube video. Other sources that can be archived would be an improvement.

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Multiple sections need to either be completed or simply written. These are clearly labeled within the article.}}{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1892-01-29
|Industry=Beverage
|Logo=Coca-Cola Company logo.svg
|Type=Public
|Website=https://www.coca-colacompany.com/
|Description=The Coca-Cola company is a beverage company known for its consolidation of roughly 1/3 of the beverage market, and corporate lobbying/bribery.
}}

'''The Coca-Cola Company''' is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. It is most commonly known for the product that is the namesake of the company "Coca-Cola", however it sells other beverages underneath various brands such as Sprite, Barq's, and Powerade. Since its founding, it has acquired dozens of companies and brands, consolidating roughly 44.9% of the greater beverage industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dey |first=Maitrayee |date=Dec 8, 2025 |editor-last=Jambhale |editor-first=Rohan |title=Coca-Cola Statistics By Revenue, Brand Valuation, Sales and Facts |url=https://electroiq.com/stats/coca-cola-statistics/ |archive-url= |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |website=ElectroIQ}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Incomplete section}}

*'''User freedom''':
*'''User privacy''':
*'''Business model''': Primarily beverage sales
*'''Market control''': Commands the largest portion of the beverage industry, shared with [[PepsiCo]] and [[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]].

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Skewing health research data===
Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220318161329/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |archive-date=18 Mar 2022}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251101083757/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |archive-date=1 Nov 2025}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220625193400/https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets |archive-date=25 Jun 2022}}</ref>

===Vitamin Water Lawsuit (''2009'')===
In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 Jan 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=28 Jul 2012 |access-date=20 Jan 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of {{Wplink|Vitamin Water}}. Claims say that the 33 grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=16 Jan 2013 |access-date=20 Jan 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 Jan 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=20 Jan 2026 |website=NBC News |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241208053305/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |archive-date=8 Dec 2024}}</ref>

===Mislabeling Minute Maid products (''2014'')===
In the case ''POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca-Cola Co.'', POM Wonderful unsuccessfully argued that Minute Maid was mislabeling its pomegranate and blueberry juices due to the products containing 99.4% apple/grape juices.

===Water usage===
{{Incomplete section}}

===Pollution===
As the single largest plastic polluter in the world, Coca-Cola Co. has a history of [[greenwashing]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williment |first=Chloe |date=24 June 2025 |title=Which Top Brands are Linked with Global Plastic Pollution? |url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/which-top-brands-are-linked-with-global-plastic-pollution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251128171809/https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/which-top-brands-are-linked-with-global-plastic-pollution |archive-date=28 Nov 2025 |access-date=18 April 2026 |website=sustainabilitymag}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=THE WHY |date=27 Feb 2025 |title=Coca-Cola's Plastic Promises⎜WHY PLASTIC?⎜(Full documentary) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mplIapcCrY8&t=140s |url-status=live |access-date=18 April 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>{{Incomplete section}}

===Anti-competitive practices===
{{Incomplete section}}

==Products==

;Beverages
*Coca-Cola
*Sprite
*Minute Maid
*Barq's
*Powerade

;Machinery
*Coke Freestyle Machine
*BreakMate

==See also==
*[[PepsiCo]]
*[[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

AEG Powertools

2026-04-09T21:24:22Z

Neige: Company links

{{#seo:
|description=AEG Powertools is a power tool brand licensed from Electrolux and manufactured by Techtronic Industries, sold in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.
}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1883
|Industry=Power Tools, Outdoor Power Equipment
|Logo=AEG logo.svg
|ParentCompany=Techtronic Industries
|CompanyAlias=AEG Power Tools, AEG Elektrowerkzeuge
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/
|Description=TTI-manufactured power tools sold under Electrolux brand license; discontinued 58V battery platform stranded customers.
}}

'''AEG Powertools''' is a power tool brand manufactured by {{Wplink|Techtronic Industries}} (TTI) under a trademark license from {{Wplink|Electrolux}}.<ref name="tti-esg">{{Cite web |title=TTI ESG Report 2024 - Legend and List of Business Units |url=https://www.ttigroup.com/documents/esg-report-2024/files/legend-and-list-of-business-units-en.pdf |website=Techtronic Industries |date=2024 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The brand is sold primarily in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, positioning itself as a professional-grade tool line between TTI's consumer brand [[Ryobi]] and its premium brand [[Milwaukee]].<ref name="protool-owners">{{Cite web |title=Power Tool Manufacturers and Who Really Owns Them |url=https://www.protoolreviews.com/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018143413/https://www.protoolreviews.com/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/ |archive-date=2025-10-18 |website=Pro Tool Reviews |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> In Australia, AEG products are sold almost exclusively through Bunnings Warehouse and Tool Kit Depot.

The AEG brand name traces to Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft, a German company originally founded as DEG in 1883 and renamed AEG in 1887.<ref name="slashgear-tti">{{Cite web |title=13 Popular Tool & Appliance Brands Owned By China's Techtronic Industries (TTI) |url=https://www.slashgear.com/1931198/china-techtronic-industries-tool-brands/ |website=SlashGear |date=2025-08-10 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> AEG pioneered portable power tools by launching the first transportable drilling machine in 1898.<ref name="aeg-onsite">{{Cite web |title=AEG Onsite Capability Statement |url=https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/sites/aegau/files/2024-05/AEG%20Onsite%20Capability%20Statement.pdf |website=AEG Powertools Australia |date=2024-05-09 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The original AEG company went through multiple ownership changes; the trademark is now held by AB Electrolux, which licenses it to TTI for power tool manufacturing and sales.<ref name="tti-esg" />

TTI acquired the AEG power tool business from Atlas Copco in 2005.<ref name="slashgear-tti" /> In the United States, TTI manufactures equivalent products under the Ridgid brand (licensed from Emerson Electric); Ridgid cordless power tools share engineering and internal components with AEG tools sold in other markets.<ref name="protool-owners" />

==Consumer-impact summary==

*AEG discontinued its entire 58V outdoor power equipment battery platform at the end of 2024, leaving customers with no replacement batteries and no transition path to the 18V replacement platform.<ref name="aeg-faq">{{Cite web |title=58V FAQ page |url=https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/58v-faq-page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418220222/https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/58v-faq-page |archive-date=2025-04-18 |website=AEG Powertools Australia |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
*The 58V platform was subject to two ACCC product safety recalls: a chainsaw fire risk recall in 2016 and a battery fire risk recall in 2023.<ref name="accc-chainsaw">{{Cite web |title=AEG 58V Chainsaw (extended recall) |url=https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/aeg-58v-chainsaw-extended-recall |website=Product Safety Australia |date=2016-11-08 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref><ref name="accc-battery">{{Cite web |title=AEG 58V 8Ah Ultimate HD Battery and AEG 58V 4Ah Ultimate Battery |url=https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/aeg-58v-8ah-ultimate-hd-battery-a58bat18-and-the-aeg-58v-4ah-ultimate-battery-a58bat14 |website=Product Safety Australia |date=2023-02-03 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
*AEG offered no trade-in program, rebate, or adapter for affected 58V customers, instead advising them to purchase new 18V tools at their own expense.<ref name="aeg-faq" />
*Customers reported that 58V tools continued to be sold at Bunnings at or near original prices without point-of-sale warnings about the discontinuation.<ref name="whirlpool-p6">{{Cite web |title=AEG 58v power tools? (page 6) |url=https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/341lzl89?p=6 |website=Whirlpool Forums |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===58V product line discontinuation===
{{Main|AEG Power Tools 58V product line discontinuation}}

AEG introduced its 58V Commercial Series of outdoor power tools in 2016 and discontinued the platform at the end of 2024.<ref name="aeg-onsite" /><ref name="aeg-faq" /> The proprietary 58V batteries required to operate these tools are no longer manufactured. Customers in Australia and New Zealand who invested in the 58V ecosystem were left with functional tools and no replacement battery supply. The discontinuation raised questions about compliance with Australian Consumer Law Section 58, which requires manufacturers to provide spare parts for a reasonable time after purchase.<ref name="accc-guarantees">{{Cite web |title=Consumer rights and guarantees |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-services/consumer-rights-and-guarantees |website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>

==Products==

AEG's current product range is built on its 18V battery platform:
*18V PRO Range (drills, drivers, saws, grinders)
*18V Sub Compact tools
*18V FORCE TABLESS batteries (launched February 2025)
*18V dual-battery outdoor equipment (replacement for discontinued 58V line)

The discontinued 58V range included mowers, chainsaws, blowers, trimmers, brushcutters, hedge trimmers, and backpack sprayers.<ref name="aeg-onsite" />

==See also==
*[[Techtronic Industries]]
*[[Planned obsolescence]]
*[[Right to Repair]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:AEG Powertools]]
[[Category:Techtronic Industries]]
[[Category:Power Tools]]
[[Category:Australia]]

AEG Powertools

2026-04-09T21:20:09Z

Neige:

{{#seo:
|description=AEG Powertools is a power tool brand licensed from Electrolux and manufactured by Techtronic Industries, sold in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.
}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1883
|Industry=Power Tools, Outdoor Power Equipment
|Logo=AEG logo.svg
|ParentCompany=Techtronic Industries
|CompanyAlias=AEG Power Tools, AEG Elektrowerkzeuge
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/
|Description=TTI-manufactured power tools sold under Electrolux brand license; discontinued 58V battery platform stranded customers.
}}

'''AEG Powertools''' is a power tool brand manufactured by {{Wplink|Techtronic Industries}} (TTI) under a trademark license from {{Wplink|Electrolux}}.<ref name="tti-esg">{{Cite web |title=TTI ESG Report 2024 - Legend and List of Business Units |url=https://www.ttigroup.com/documents/esg-report-2024/files/legend-and-list-of-business-units-en.pdf |website=Techtronic Industries |date=2024 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The brand is sold primarily in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, positioning itself as a professional-grade tool line between TTI's consumer brand Ryobi and its premium brand Milwaukee.<ref name="protool-owners">{{Cite web |title=Power Tool Manufacturers and Who Really Owns Them |url=https://www.protoolreviews.com/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018143413/https://www.protoolreviews.com/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/ |archive-date=2025-10-18 |website=Pro Tool Reviews |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> In Australia, AEG products are sold almost exclusively through Bunnings Warehouse and Tool Kit Depot.

The AEG brand name traces to Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft, a German company originally founded as DEG in 1883 and renamed AEG in 1887.<ref name="slashgear-tti">{{Cite web |title=13 Popular Tool & Appliance Brands Owned By China's Techtronic Industries (TTI) |url=https://www.slashgear.com/1931198/china-techtronic-industries-tool-brands/ |website=SlashGear |date=2025-08-10 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> AEG pioneered portable power tools by launching the first transportable drilling machine in 1898.<ref name="aeg-onsite">{{Cite web |title=AEG Onsite Capability Statement |url=https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/sites/aegau/files/2024-05/AEG%20Onsite%20Capability%20Statement.pdf |website=AEG Powertools Australia |date=2024-05-09 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The original AEG company went through multiple ownership changes; the trademark is now held by AB Electrolux, which licenses it to TTI for power tool manufacturing and sales.<ref name="tti-esg" />

TTI acquired the AEG power tool business from Atlas Copco in 2005.<ref name="slashgear-tti" /> In the United States, TTI manufactures equivalent products under the Ridgid brand (licensed from Emerson Electric); Ridgid cordless power tools share engineering and internal components with AEG tools sold in other markets.<ref name="protool-owners" />

==Consumer-impact summary==

*AEG discontinued its entire 58V outdoor power equipment battery platform at the end of 2024, leaving customers with no replacement batteries and no transition path to the 18V replacement platform.<ref name="aeg-faq">{{Cite web |title=58V FAQ page |url=https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/58v-faq-page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418220222/https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/58v-faq-page |archive-date=2025-04-18 |website=AEG Powertools Australia |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
*The 58V platform was subject to two ACCC product safety recalls: a chainsaw fire risk recall in 2016 and a battery fire risk recall in 2023.<ref name="accc-chainsaw">{{Cite web |title=AEG 58V Chainsaw (extended recall) |url=https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/aeg-58v-chainsaw-extended-recall |website=Product Safety Australia |date=2016-11-08 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref><ref name="accc-battery">{{Cite web |title=AEG 58V 8Ah Ultimate HD Battery and AEG 58V 4Ah Ultimate Battery |url=https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/aeg-58v-8ah-ultimate-hd-battery-a58bat18-and-the-aeg-58v-4ah-ultimate-battery-a58bat14 |website=Product Safety Australia |date=2023-02-03 |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
*AEG offered no trade-in program, rebate, or adapter for affected 58V customers, instead advising them to purchase new 18V tools at their own expense.<ref name="aeg-faq" />
*Customers reported that 58V tools continued to be sold at Bunnings at or near original prices without point-of-sale warnings about the discontinuation.<ref name="whirlpool-p6">{{Cite web |title=AEG 58v power tools? (page 6) |url=https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/341lzl89?p=6 |website=Whirlpool Forums |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===58V product line discontinuation===
{{Main|AEG Power Tools 58V product line discontinuation}}

AEG introduced its 58V Commercial Series of outdoor power tools in 2016 and discontinued the platform at the end of 2024.<ref name="aeg-onsite" /><ref name="aeg-faq" /> The proprietary 58V batteries required to operate these tools are no longer manufactured. Customers in Australia and New Zealand who invested in the 58V ecosystem were left with functional tools and no replacement battery supply. The discontinuation raised questions about compliance with Australian Consumer Law Section 58, which requires manufacturers to provide spare parts for a reasonable time after purchase.<ref name="accc-guarantees">{{Cite web |title=Consumer rights and guarantees |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-services/consumer-rights-and-guarantees |website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission |access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>

==Products==

AEG's current product range is built on its 18V battery platform:
*18V PRO Range (drills, drivers, saws, grinders)
*18V Sub Compact tools
*18V FORCE TABLESS batteries (launched February 2025)
*18V dual-battery outdoor equipment (replacement for discontinued 58V line)

The discontinued 58V range included mowers, chainsaws, blowers, trimmers, brushcutters, hedge trimmers, and backpack sprayers.<ref name="aeg-onsite" />

==See also==
*[[Techtronic Industries]]
*[[Planned obsolescence]]
*[[Right to Repair]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:AEG Powertools]]
[[Category:Techtronic Industries]]
[[Category:Power Tools]]
[[Category:Australia]]

Dynamic pricing

2026-04-08T22:42:03Z

Neige: Wikipedia link

{{Stub}}
'''[[wikipedia:Dynamic_pricing|Dynamic pricing]]''' is an umbrella term, which refers to a pricing strategy of modifying the price of a product or service according to market demands and/or consumer-identifying information. This definition includes '''surge pricing''', '''surveillance pricing''', '''demand pricing''', '''time-based''' '''pricing''' and '''variable pricing'''.

==How it works==
Dynamic pricing involves setting individual-consumer prices and dynamically changing them both over time and personally depending on individual consumer information, all of which is done by algorithms.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Seele |first=Peter |last2=Dierksmeier |first2=Clause |last3=Hofstetter |first3=Reto |last4=Schultz |first4=Mario D. |date=10 December 2019 |title=Mapping the Ethicality of Algorithmic Pricing: A Review of Dynamic and Personalized Pricing |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-019-04371-w |journal=Journal of Business Ethics |volume=170 |via=Springer}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Priester |first=Anna |last2=Robbert |first2=Thomas |last3=Roth |first3=Stefan |date=23 January 2020 |title=A special price just for you: effects of personalized dynamic pricing on consumer fairness perceptions |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41272-019-00224-3 |journal=Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management |volume=19 |via=Springer}}</ref> To make it more effective, the customer is given real-time content recommendation based on their history of personal information. The algorithms can also detect if a customer is disengaging, which then causes dynamic pricing and communications to intervene.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dakouan |first=Chouaib |last2=Benabdelouahed |first2=Redouane |last3=Lebbar |first3=Oumaima |date=11 March 2026 |title=Theoretical Exploration of the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Optimizing Inbound Marketing Practices |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-12968-0_1#DOI |journal=Strategic Innovative Marketing and Tourism |pages=4, 5 |via=Springer}}</ref>

==Why it is a problem==

===Price discrimination===
Price discrimination is illegal in the U.S. if it is based on race, gender, religion, or nationality, but doesn't prohibit price discrimination based other personal factors.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Is Dynamic Pricing Legal? |url=https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/small-business/is-dynamic-pricing-legal/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2026 |website=FindLaw}}</ref> Companies aren't upfront about using other personal factors, because consumers don't like it when they find out they were charged more for the same products than the people around them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giansiracusa |first=Noah |date=26 Dec 2025 |title=Algorithmic pricing is scary. It doesn’t have to be. |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/26/opinion/algorithmic-surveillance-pricing-price-discrimination/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251227101111/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/26/opinion/algorithmic-surveillance-pricing-price-discrimination/ |archive-date=27 Dec 2025 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=The Boston Globe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vedantam |first=Shankar |date=17 May 2016 |title=This Is Your Brain On Uber |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/478266839 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250908175727/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/478266839 |archive-date=8 Sep 2025 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=NPR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=M. Keith |last2=Sheldon |first2=Michael |date=November 3, 2025 |title=Dynamic Pricing in a Labor Market: Surge Pricing and the Supply of Uber Driver-Partners |url=https://www.aeaweb.org/conference/2016/retrieve.php?pdfid=21740&tk=B3G8HTQB |journal=Labor Studies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260301024619/https://www.aeaweb.org/conference/2016/retrieve.php?pdfid=21740&tk=B3G8HTQB |archive-date=1 Mar 2026 |via=Google Scholar}}</ref>

====Perceived fairness====
In 2016, a behavioral scientist that works at Uber made clear that the company could prove that people that people are willing to pay more when their phone batteries were low. Uber claimed they “absolutely don’t use that” information, but it's not legally prohibited, so consumers have to take their word for it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahdawi |first=Arwa |date=13 Apr 2018 |title=Is your friend getting a cheaper Uber fare than you are? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/13/uber-lyft-prices-personalized-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312173357/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/13/uber-lyft-prices-personalized-data |archive-date=12 Mar 2026 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Price discrimination concerns have also been publicly remediated by claiming the usage of a practice known as "[[steering]]" instead. Steering is dynamically showing more expensive ''options'' based on individual consumer's characteristics, such as being a Mac user.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kingsley-Hughes |first=Adrian |date=27 Jun 2012 |title=Mac Users Have Money to Spare, Says Orbitz |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/adriankingsleyhughes/2012/06/26/mac-users-have-money-to-spare-says-orbitz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603093545/https://www.forbes.com/sites/adriankingsleyhughes/2012/06/26/mac-users-have-money-to-spare-says-orbitz/ |archive-date=3 Jun 2025 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref>

Not being able to objectively compare prices restricts a consumer's ability to perceive fair pricing. The ability to plan future purchases is also limited, because prices change constantly. From a consumer perspective, the unfavorable aspects algorithmic pricing can outweigh the ability to search and compare online that enables more choices.<ref name=":0" />

===Privacy concerns in digital marketing===

Dynamic pricing involves highly personal and identifying consumer data for individual price determination, which raises serious concerns about privacy.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> There is a lack of transparency around that data collection, because often the consumer is ''not'' informed that:

*The sites they have previously visited in their browser and their clicks are tracked to finely infer tastes, income and health status.

*Merchants don't have to ask explicit consent to adjust prices based on tracking cookies.

This is an informational advantage that companies leverage, which could limit the consumer's ability to objectively compare products online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Shannon |date=5 Apr 2021 |title=Mapping the Ethicality of Algorithmic Pricing |url=https://montrealethics.ai/mapping-the-ethicality-of-algorithmic-pricing/}}</ref>

==Examples==
*[[Wendy's]] introducing dynamic pricing in 2025 for "getting more breakfast customers in".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/28/1234412431/wendys-dynamic-surge-pricing|title=No, Wendy's says it isn't planning to introduce surge pricing|work=NPR|date=2024-02-28|first=Joe|last=Hernandez}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Value based pricing]]

[[Category:Common terms]]

Shimano

2026-04-08T19:00:15Z

Neige: "e-bike" instead or E-bike or ebike.

{{StubNotice}}

{{CompanyCargo|Founded=1921|Industry=Bicycling, fishing, and rowing|Type=Public|Website=https://www.shimano.com/en/|Description=Shimano Inc. is a Japanese company that produces cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded and named after Shozaburo Shimano.|CompanyAlias=Shimano Industries, Inc.|Logo=Shimano Logo.webp}}

[[wikipedia:Shimano|'''Shimano, Inc.''']] is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company that produces bicycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded by and named after Shozaburo Shimano.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*User Freedom: Customers are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their e-bike motors.
*User Privacy:
*Business Model:
*Market Control: Shimano is the second largest e-bike motor manufacturer. [[Bosch]] and Shimano combined hold 75% of the European market share and nearly half of the global market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=World Market for Electric Bike Motors: Bosch, Shimano & Bafang Dominate |url=https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116092943/https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=EBike24}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===E-bike components===
Customers with Shimano motors including the EP6 and EP801 are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their e-bikes. Special software and hardware primarily used by bike shops is required to activate ports or accept new devices. What used to be a click on an app is now a trip to a bike shop or paying hundreds for diagnostic equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |author=RunBikeMike |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=Installing an EBike Light To Run Off Your Battery / MagicShine ME2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI&t=50s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=11 March 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

'''<big>Faulty cranksets</big>'''

Some cranksets produced by Shimano have defects making them prone to breaking and injuring bicyclists. During March 2026, Shimano agreed to pay a $11.5 million civil penalty for failing to immediately report cranksets that posed a crash hazard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2026 |title=Shimano Agrees to Pay $11.5 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Immediately Report Bicycle Cranksets that Posed a Crash Hazard |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317155252/https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |archive-date=17 March 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Consumer Product Safety Commission}}</ref>

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[E-Bike Tuning Detection: Bosch and Yamaha’s Anti-Tampering Systems]]
*[[Bosch]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Bosch

2026-04-08T18:50:40Z

Neige: Consumer-impact summary details

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Missing sections|Issue 2=Needs additional references}}{{CompanyCargo
|Description=German engineering company.
|Founded=1886
|Industry=Automotive, Electronics, Technology
|Logo=Bosch.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.bosch.com/
}}
'''{{wplink|Bosch (company)|Robert Bosch GmbH}}''', commonly known as '''Bosch''' (styled '''BOSCH'''), is a German multinational engineering and technology company founded in 1886 by Robert Bosch.

==Consumer-impact summary==

* User Freedom:
* User Privacy:
* Business Model:
* Market Control: Bosch is the largest E-bike motor manufacturer. Bosch and [[Shimano]] combined hold 75% of the European market share and nearly half of the global market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=World Market for Electric Bike Motors: Bosch, Shimano & Bafang Dominate |url=https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116092943/https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=8 April 2026 |website=EBike24}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===E-bike components===
Only the e-bike batteries from Bosch themselves can be used on the modern e-bikes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peace |first=Richard |date=23 Feb 2023 |title=Replacement Electric Bike Batteries Guide |url=https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325202127/https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-date=25 Mar 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Electric Bike Report |quote=Only Bosch manufactured batteries will be used on any new Bosch e-bike – this has always been the case and so it makes advice on interchangeability a little more straightforward than with the likes of Shimano and Brose who have both allowed the use of third party batteries with their mid-drive motor systems.}}</ref>

Many e-bikes, like those of Bosch or [[Shimano]], have their own proprietary systems, making it complicated for third-parties to provide spare parts, which would also void the warranty of the e-bike. [[Right to repair]] legislation would make it easier to provide spare batteries for these e-bikes, which the industry is against by claiming it would be unsafe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grist |last2=Stone |first2=Maddie |date=10 Aug 2023 |title=E-bike companies are fighting to be exempted from right-to-repair laws |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811193642/https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |archive-date=11 Aug 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Fast Company}}</ref>

Bosch and [[Shimano]] place restrictions on consumers from being able to connect lights and other components to their e-bike electrical system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RunBikeMike |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=Installing an EBike Light To Run Off Your Battery / MagicShine ME2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI&t=50s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Special software only accessible to qualified bike shops is required to activate ports or accept new devices. Additional connectivity barriers exist such as difficult to acquire Bosch specific cables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bosch eBike Light Switch Activation |url=https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/products/bosch-ebike-light-activation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708203340/https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/products/bosch-ebike-light-activation |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=EBikeShop.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=15 Mar 2022 |title=Bosch takes the L on right to repair for ebikes |url=https://youtu.be/j7e9hO5yMtk?t=75 |url-status=live |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

===Dishwasher with home connect system===
{{Main|Bosch Cloud Dishwasher Incident}}
The home connect system mandates that users connect their dishwasher to Wi‑Fi and register for a Home Connect account in order to access essential functions—such as rinse cycles, eco mode, and delay start—that were previously available directly via physical controls.{{CitationNeeded|reason=I'm seeing some em's, if it's AI, we're going to need a citation}}

===Washing Machine planned obsolescence===
Recent models now have a sealed drum which prevent replacing the bearing or drum spider independently. Additionally the whole drum assembly replacement is sold at a price making it's replacement prohibitive.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=The Truth About SEALED Drums: Naming & Shaming |url=https://youtu.be/crzZEvFf_L4?si=DkgU7zG2lSyuh8nK&t=50 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=crzZEvFf_L4 |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Refrigerator cameras deactivated===
Bosch announced that cameras in smart fridges would lose their function on March 31st, 2026. The company worded this as ''"adjusting digital features inside the Home-Connect environment"'' ''("die digitalen Funktionen innerhalb der Home-Connect-Umgebung anzupassen")'' and cites low market demand and unspecified technological advancements as the reasons. In 2022, Bosch had already restricted features to analyse the refrigerator content to get tips for ideal placement of items and recipes for using up leftovers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pakalski |first=Ingo |date=2026-02-25 |title=Bosch deaktiviert Innenkameras in verkauften Kühlschränken [Bosch deactivates interior cameras in refrigerators that have already been sold] |url=https://www.golem.de/news/smart-home-bosch-deaktiviert-innenkameras-in-verkauften-kuehlschraenken-2602-205832.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfAGL |archive-date=2026-02-25 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Golem}}</ref>

==Products==

*[[Bosch Spexor]] (2019)
*Bosch 500 series dishwasher
*Bosch Series 4, Series 6 washing machines (check specific model numbers in video description of <ref name=":0" />)
*Bosch GLM 50 C

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Home appliance companies]]

Bosch

2026-04-08T18:28:03Z

Neige: Archived source

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Missing sections|Issue 2=Needs additional references}}{{CompanyCargo
|Description=German engineering company.
|Founded=1886
|Industry=Automotive, Electronics, Technology
|Logo=Bosch.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.bosch.com/
}}
'''{{wplink|Bosch (company)|Robert Bosch GmbH}}''', commonly known as '''Bosch''' (styled '''BOSCH'''), is a German multinational engineering and technology company founded in 1886 by Robert Bosch.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===E-bike components===
Only the e-bike batteries from Bosch themselves can be used on the modern e-bikes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peace |first=Richard |date=23 Feb 2023 |title=Replacement Electric Bike Batteries Guide |url=https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325202127/https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-date=25 Mar 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Electric Bike Report |quote=Only Bosch manufactured batteries will be used on any new Bosch e-bike – this has always been the case and so it makes advice on interchangeability a little more straightforward than with the likes of Shimano and Brose who have both allowed the use of third party batteries with their mid-drive motor systems.}}</ref>

Many e-bikes, like those of Bosch or [[Shimano]], have their own proprietary systems, making it complicated for third-parties to provide spare parts, which would also void the warranty of the e-bike. [[Right to repair]] legislation would make it easier to provide spare batteries for these e-bikes, which the industry is against by claiming it would be unsafe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grist |last2=Stone |first2=Maddie |date=10 Aug 2023 |title=E-bike companies are fighting to be exempted from right-to-repair laws |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811193642/https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |archive-date=11 Aug 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Fast Company}}</ref>

Bosch and [[Shimano]] place restrictions on consumers from being able to connect lights and other components to their e-bike electrical system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RunBikeMike |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=Installing an EBike Light To Run Off Your Battery / MagicShine ME2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI&t=50s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Special software only accessible to qualified bike shops is required to activate ports or accept new devices. Additional connectivity barriers exist such as difficult to acquire Bosch specific cables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bosch eBike Light Switch Activation |url=https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/products/bosch-ebike-light-activation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708203340/https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/products/bosch-ebike-light-activation |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=EBikeShop.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=15 Mar 2022 |title=Bosch takes the L on right to repair for ebikes |url=https://youtu.be/j7e9hO5yMtk?t=75 |url-status=live |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

===Dishwasher with home connect system===
{{Main|Bosch Cloud Dishwasher Incident}}
The home connect system mandates that users connect their dishwasher to Wi‑Fi and register for a Home Connect account in order to access essential functions—such as rinse cycles, eco mode, and delay start—that were previously available directly via physical controls.{{CitationNeeded|reason=I'm seeing some em's, if it's AI, we're going to need a citation}}

===Washing Machine planned obsolescence===
Recent models now have a sealed drum which prevent replacing the bearing or drum spider independently. Additionally the whole drum assembly replacement is sold at a price making it's replacement prohibitive.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=The Truth About SEALED Drums: Naming & Shaming |url=https://youtu.be/crzZEvFf_L4?si=DkgU7zG2lSyuh8nK&t=50 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=crzZEvFf_L4 |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Refrigerator cameras deactivated===
Bosch announced that cameras in smart fridges would lose their function on March 31st, 2026. The company worded this as ''"adjusting digital features inside the Home-Connect environment"'' ''("die digitalen Funktionen innerhalb der Home-Connect-Umgebung anzupassen")'' and cites low market demand and unspecified technological advancements as the reasons. In 2022, Bosch had already restricted features to analyse the refrigerator content to get tips for ideal placement of items and recipes for using up leftovers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pakalski |first=Ingo |date=2026-02-25 |title=Bosch deaktiviert Innenkameras in verkauften Kühlschränken [Bosch deactivates interior cameras in refrigerators that have already been sold] |url=https://www.golem.de/news/smart-home-bosch-deaktiviert-innenkameras-in-verkauften-kuehlschraenken-2602-205832.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfAGL |archive-date=2026-02-25 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Golem}}</ref>

==Products==

*[[Bosch Spexor]] (2019)
*Bosch 500 series dishwasher
*Bosch Series 4, Series 6 washing machines (check specific model numbers in video description of <ref name=":0" />)
*Bosch GLM 50 C

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Home appliance companies]]

Shimano

2026-04-08T03:06:53Z

Neige:

{{StubNotice}}

{{CompanyCargo|Founded=1921|Industry=Bicycling, fishing, and rowing|Type=Public|Website=https://www.shimano.com/en/|Description=Shimano Inc. is a Japanese company that produces cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded and named after Shozaburo Shimano.|CompanyAlias=Shimano Industries, Inc.|Logo=Shimano Logo.webp}}

[[wikipedia:Shimano|'''Shimano, Inc.''']] is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company that produces bicycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded by and named after Shozaburo Shimano.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*User Freedom: Customers are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their E-bike motors.
*User Privacy:
*Business Model:
*Market Control: Shimano is the second largest E-bike motor manufacturer. [[Bosch]] and Shimano combine to hold 75% of the European market share and nearly half of the global market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=World Market for Electric Bike Motors: Bosch, Shimano & Bafang Dominate |url=https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116092943/https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=EBike24}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===E-bike components===
Customers with Shimano motors including the EP6 and EP801 are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their E-bikes. Special software and hardware primarily used by bike shops is required to activate ports or accept new devices. What used to be a click on an app is now a trip to a bike shop or paying hundreds for diagnostic equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |author=RunBikeMike |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=Installing an EBike Light To Run Off Your Battery / MagicShine ME2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI&t=50s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=11 March 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

'''<big>Faulty cranksets</big>'''

Some cranksets produced by Shimano have defects making them prone to breaking and injuring bicyclists. During March 2026, Shimano agreed to pay a $11.5 million civil penalty for failing to immediately report cranksets that posed a crash hazard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2026 |title=Shimano Agrees to Pay $11.5 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Immediately Report Bicycle Cranksets that Posed a Crash Hazard |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317155252/https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |archive-date=17 March 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Consumer Product Safety Commission}}</ref>

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[E-Bike Tuning Detection: Bosch and Yamaha’s Anti-Tampering Systems]]
*[[Bosch]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

DJI Romo robot vacuum vulnerability

2026-04-08T02:39:23Z

Neige: DJI link

{{stub}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=DJI
|StartDate=2026-02-22
|EndDate=2026-02-22
|Status=Resolved
|ProductLine=DJI
|Product=DJI Romo
|ArticleType=Product
|Description=DJI vacuum cleaners get accidentally hacked by guy using Claude Code.
}}A vulnerability in [[DJI]] Romo vacuums was discovered in 2025 which would've allowed malicious actors to remotely access and control all of them without hacking into DJI servers.<ref name="Verge">{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2026-02-14 |title=The DJI Romo robovac had security so poor, this man remotely accessed thousands of them |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/879088/dji-romo-hack-vulnerability-remote-control-camera-access-mqtt |work=The Verge}}</ref>

==Background==
{{Ph-I-B}}

==DJI Romo remote access vulnerability==
In 2025, Sammy Azdoufal created an app to control his new DJI Romo robot vacuum with a PS5 controller. As a result of the device utilizing one API key, he unintentionally had remote access to approximately 6,700 DJI Romo vacuums, and over 10,000 total devices. He was able to do this by accessing his data on his own device, without hacking a DJI server or sending malware to other vacuums.<ref name="Verge" />

===DJI's response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}
After this vulnerability was told to DJI by Sammy and The Verge, remote access to the robot was disabled with that key. <ref name="Verge" />

DJI had responded with this statement:

"DJI identified a vulnerability affecting DJI Home through internal review in late January and initiated remediation immediately. The issue was addressed through two updates, with an initial patch deployed on February 8 and a follow-up update completed on February 10. The fix was deployed automatically, and no user action is required."<ref name="Verge" /> 

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:DJI]]

Shimano

2026-04-08T00:28:01Z

Neige:

{{StubNotice}}

{{CompanyCargo|Founded=1921|Industry=Bicycling, fishing, and rowing|Type=Public|Website=https://www.shimano.com/en/|Description=Shimano Inc. is a Japanese company that produces cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded and named after Shozaburo Shimano.|CompanyAlias=Shimano Industries, Inc.|Logo=Shimano Logo.webp}}

[[wikipedia:Shimano|'''Shimano Inc.''']] is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company that produces bicycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded by and named after Shozaburo Shimano.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*User Freedom: Customers are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their E-bike motors.
*User Privacy:
*Business Model:
*Market Control: Shimano is the second largest E-bike motor manufacturer. [[Bosch]] and Shimano combine to hold 75% of the European market share and nearly half of the global market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=World Market for Electric Bike Motors: Bosch, Shimano & Bafang Dominate |url=https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116092943/https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=EBike24}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===E-bike components===
Customers with Shimano motors including the EP6 and EP801 are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their E-bikes. Special software and hardware primarily used by bike shops is required to activate ports or accept new devices. What used to be a click on an app is now a trip to a bike shop or paying hundreds for diagnostic equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |author=RunBikeMike |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=Installing an EBike Light To Run Off Your Battery / MagicShine ME2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI&t=50s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=11 March 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

'''<big>Faulty Cranksets</big>'''

Shimano cranksets such as the Ultegra FC-6800 and Dura-Ace FC-9000 have defects making them prone to breaking and injuring bicyclists. During March 2026, Shimano agreed to pay a $11.5 million civil penalty for failing to immediately report cranksets that posed a crash hazard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2026 |title=Shimano Agrees to Pay $11.5 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Immediately Report Bicycle Cranksets that Posed a Crash Hazard |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317155252/https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |archive-date=17 March 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Consumer Product Safety Commission}}</ref>

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[E-Bike Tuning Detection: Bosch and Yamaha’s Anti-Tampering Systems]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Shimano

2026-04-08T00:26:20Z

Neige: Consumer-impact summary details and added a bit about a crankset civil penalty.

{{StubNotice}}

{{CompanyCargo|Founded=1921|Industry=Bicycling, fishing, and rowing|Type=Public|Website=https://www.shimano.com/en/|Description=Shimano Inc. is a Japanese company that produces cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded and named after Shozaburo Shimano.|CompanyAlias=Shimano Industries, Inc.|Logo=Shimano Logo.webp}}

[[wikipedia:Shimano|'''Shimano Inc.''']] is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company that produces bicycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment. The company was founded by and named after Shozaburo Shimano.

==Consumer-impact summary==

* User Freedom: Customers are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their E-bike motors.
* User Privacy:
* Business Model:
* Market Control: Shimano is the second largest E-bike motor manufacturer. [[Bosch]] and Shimano combine to hold 75% of the European market share and nearly half of the global market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=World Market for Electric Bike Motors: Bosch, Shimano & Bafang Dominate |url=https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116092943/https://www.ebike24.com/blog/manufacturers-of-ebike-motors |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=EBike24}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===E-bike components===
Customers with Shimano motors including the EP6 and EP801 are restricted from connecting electrical equipment such as lights to their E-bikes. Special software and hardware primarily used by bike shops is required to activate ports or accept new devices. What used to be a click on an app is now a trip to a bike shop or paying hundreds for diagnostic equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |author=RunBikeMike |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=Installing an EBike Light To Run Off Your Battery / MagicShine ME2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI&t=50s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=AvG7Fpb1tzI |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=11 March 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

'''<big>Faulty Cranksets</big>'''

Shimano cranksets such as the Ultegra FC-6800 and Dura-Ace FC-9000 have defects making them prone to breaking and injuring bicyclists. In March 2026, Shimano agreed to pay a $11.5 million civil penalty for failing to immediately report cranksets that posed a crash hazard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2026 |title=Shimano Agrees to Pay $11.5 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Immediately Report Bicycle Cranksets that Posed a Crash Hazard |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317155252/https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Shimano-Agrees-to-Pay-11-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Immediately-Report-Bicycle-Cranksets-that-Posed-a-Crash-Hazard |archive-date=17 March 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Consumer Product Safety Commission}}</ref>

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[E-Bike Tuning Detection: Bosch and Yamaha’s Anti-Tampering Systems]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Jimmy John's

2026-04-07T23:38:50Z

Neige: Jersey Mike's link

{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 13 January 1983
| Industry = Food
| ParentCompany = Inspire Brand
| Type = Subsidiary
| Website = http://jimmyjohns.com/
| Logo = Jimmy John's logo.png
}}

'''[[wikipedia:Jimmy_John's|Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC]]''' is a American multinational sandwich chain comprising a variety of sandwiches. It later became a subsidiary to [[wikipedia:Inspire_Brands|Inspire Brands]] after being bought for a undisclosed amount in 2019.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*User Freedom:
*User Privacy:
*Business Model: Sells a variety of sandwiches and franchises locations
*Market Control:

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Jimmy John's|Jimmy John's category]].

===Health Outbreak History===

====E.coli (''2008'')====
On 26 September, Boulder County Public Health discovered a possible E.coli O157 affection after receiving calls from Infection Control Practitioner that several students from University of Colorado reported having bloody diarrhea and cramping, eventually leading to an investigation in collaboration with Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Tri-County Health Department, Broomfield Health & Human Services, and the Food and Drug Administration. Three Days later, it was discovered that 90% of E.Coli cases were linked to Jimmy John's, resulting in the restaurant chain undergoing a health inspection that revealed alfalfa sprouts and roast beef being out of temperature, employees not washing their hands, and 4 employees working while having bloody diarrhea. The store temporarily closed on 6 October, however it was later reopened after being sanitized on 10 October. Boulder County Public Health released a statement on 08 October, noting that around 21 individuals were affected with E.Coli, with 2 of them requiring medical attention.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alden |first=Nisha |date=7 April 2026 |title=Outbreak of E. coli Infections in Boulder County & other Denver-area Counties September-October 2008 |url=https://www.marlerblog.com/uploads/file/BCPH%20FINAL%20OUTBREAK%20SUMMARY.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326042054/https://www.marlerblog.com/uploads/file/BCPH%20FINAL%20OUTBREAK%20SUMMARY.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2016 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Marlerblog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Marler |date=7 April 2026 |title=JIMMY JOHN’S COLORADO E. COLI SPROUT OUTBREAK |url=https://marlerclark.com/news_events/jimmy-johns-colorado-e-coli-sprout-outbreak |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Marlerclark}}</ref>

====Salmonella (''2009'')====
On February, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced 256 individuals gotten sick with Salmonella after consumption of Jimmy John's alfalfa sprout. On 26 April, the Food & Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement warning consumers to avoid alfalfa sprout.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stearns |first=Denis |date=2 February 2015 |title=Salmonella and E. coli Outbreaks: Why Does Jimmy Johns Still Serve Sprouts? |url=https://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/foodborne-illness-outbreaks/salmonella-and-e-coli-outbreaks-why-does-jimmy-johns-serve-sprouts/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Food Poison Journal}}</ref>

====Salmonella (''2010'')====
Around December, Food and Drug Administration along with other health agencies announced that Jimmy John's gourmet sandwiches supplier Tiny Greens was the source of a salmonella outbreak sickening 89 individuals in Illinois. In response, Jimmy John's cease production and sale of alfalfa sprout across all locations in Illinois. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Rothschild |first=Mary |date=27 December 2010 |title=Sprouts Outbreak Linked to Illinois Organic Farm |url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/sprouts-outbreak-linked-to-illinois-organic-farm/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Food Safety News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rothschild |first=Mary |date=23 December 2010 |title=CDC Confirms Multistate Salmonella Outbreak |url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/cdc-confirms-multistate-salmonella-outbreak/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Food Safety News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marler |first=Bill |date=28 December 2010 |title=Perhaps after three Sprout Outbreaks, Jimmy John’s should reconsider what it puts on your sandwiches? |url=https://www.marlerblog.com/legal-cases/perhaps-after-three-sprout-outbreaks-jimmy-johns-should-reconsider-what-it-puts-on-your-sandwiches/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Marlerclark}}</ref>

====E.coli (''2012'')====
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a series of statements starting 02 February through 03 April that detailed 29 individuals being affected with E.Coli across 11 states through 25 December 2011 to 15 January 2012 all being linked to Jimmy John's.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2012 |title=2012 E. coli Outbreak Linked to Raw Clover Sprouts at Jimmy John’s Restaurants |url=https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/ecoli/2012/o26-02-12/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Center For Disease Control And Prevention}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rothschild |first=Mary |date=14 February 2012 |title=Outbreak Linked to Raw Sprouts Sickens 12 |url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/02/twelve-people-in-fives-states/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Food Safety News}}</ref>

====Salmonella (''2018'')====
On 19 January, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement announcing an salmonella outbreak affecting 8 individuals across 3 states. In the announcement, it highlighted Jimmy John's clover sprouts as the source of the outbreak, along with urging customers to avoid consumption of Jimmy John's clovers located in Illinois and Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2018 |title=Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo Infections Linked to Raw Sprouts |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120204915/https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/montevideo-01-18/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}}</ref> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would release another statement on 28 February, announcing 2 more individuals linked to the outbreak with no reported deaths or hospitalization. Additionally, it mentions the outbreak started around 20 December 2017 to 28 January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2018 |title=2018 Salmonella Montevideo Infections Linked to Raw Sprouts (Final Update) |url=https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/montevideo-01-18/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625172138/https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/montevideo-01-18/index.html |archive-date=25 June 2018 |access-date=7 April 2026 |website=Centers for Disease Control And Prevention}}</ref>

====E.coli (''2020'')====
On February, 14 individuals were affected with E.Coli

https://web.archive.org/web/20200320220122/https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o103-clover-sprouts-february-2020

https://ourweeks.com/jimmy-johns-sprouts-ecoli-salmonella-illnesses/

https://www.contagionlive.com/view/fda-sends-warning-letter-to-jimmy-johns

===Credit card breach (''2014'')===
On 30 July, Jimmy John's discovered a data breach affecting one of its third parties Signature Systems Inc. point of sales systems across several locations that leaked customers credit and debit card numbers, verification code, name, and card expiration dates.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brian |first=Krebbs |date=31 July 2014 |title=Sandwich Chain Jimmy John’s Investigating Breach Claims |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/07/sandwich-chain-jimmy-johns-investigating-breach-claims/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801020853/https://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/07/sandwich-chain-jimmy-johns-investigating-breach-claims/ |archive-date=1 August 2014 |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=KrebsOnSecurity}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Laasby |first=Gitte |date=24 September 2014 |title=Jimmy John's confirms nationwide data breach, including five Wisconsin locations |url=https://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/news/276968161.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=milwaukee journal sentinel}}</ref> On the next day, the company responded with a statement saying ''"Jimmy John’s is currently working with the proper authorities and investigating the situation. We will provide an update as soon as we have additional information".''<ref name=":0" />

On September, Jimmy John's released another statement that described the breach lasted from 16 June to 05 September across 216 locations, however the company didn't say how many customers were affected nor disclose the third party name.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koplowitz |first=Howard |date=24 September 2014 |title=Jimmy John's Data Breach: Full List Of Shops Where Credit Card Information Was Hacked |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/jimmy-johns-data-breach-full-list-shops-where-credit-card-information-was-hacked-1694507 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=International Business Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Kate |date=24 September 2014 |title=Another Hack: Jimmy John's Is the Latest Chain to Suffer a Data Breach |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna56110999 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Gerry |date=24 September 2014 |title=Jimmy John's Confirms Credit Card Breach At 216 Stores |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jimmy-johns-breach_n_5877134 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Huffpost}}</ref><blockquote>"Jimmy John's has taken steps to prevent this type of event from occurring in the future, including installing encrypted swipe machines, implementing system enhancements, and reviewing its policies and procedures for its third party vendors"<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2014 |title=Jimmy John's says customers' credit card data likely stolen |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jimmy-johns-says-customers-credit-card-data-likely-stolen/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=CBS News}}</ref></blockquote>Additionally, the company gave affected customers 1 year free identity protection services and highlighted steps to prevent future breaches, including ''"installing encrypted swipe machines, implementing system enhancements, and reviewing its policies."''<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2014 |title=JIMMY JOHN’S NOTIFIES CUSTOMERS OF PAYMENT CARD SECURITY INCIDENT |url=https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/AG_CA_Notification_Letter_Jimmy_Johns_0_1.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=oag.gov}}</ref>

===Collecting customers drive thru data without consent (''2023'')===
On 4 August, a lawsuit was filed against Jimmy John's for violation of the [[wikipedia:Biometric_Information_Privacy_Act|Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act]] by unlawfully collecting customers voiceprints without permission. Additionally, it also claims the company failed to provide "retention schedule or guidelines" that permanently destroy any collected biometric data.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehorter |first=Kelly |date=7 August 2023 |title=Jimmy John’s Collects Drive-Through Customers’ Voiceprints Without Consent, Class Action Says |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/jimmy-johns-collects-drive-through-customers-voiceprints-without-consent-class-action-says |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=ClassAction}}</ref> On 02 October 2023, the case was dismissed with prejudice over failure to state a claim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2026 |title=Gebhardt et al v. Jimmy Johns LLC |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilcdce/2:2023cv02168/90378 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Justia}}</ref>

==Product==

===Jimmy John’s Cookies (''2020'')===
[[File:Jimmy John's Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie.jpg|thumb|Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie]]
On 4 January<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 April 2026 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI |url=https://truthinadvertising.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Martin-v-Jimmy-Johns-complaint.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=TruthinAdvertising}}</ref>, Sharon Martin filed a class action lawsuit against Jimmy John's for falsely representing to customers that their Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies contained "minimally processed” and “no artificial ingredients" while containing said ingredients inside their products.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shaak |first=Erin |date=29 May 2020 |title=Jimmy John’s ‘All Natural’ Cookies Contain Highly Processed Ingredients, Lawsuit Claims [UPDATE] |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/jimmy-johns-all-natural-cookies-contain-highly-processed-ingredients-lawsuit-claims |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=ClassAction}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Katherine |date=2 June 2020 |title=Jimmy John’s Class Action Says Cookies Aren’t All Natural |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/food/jimmy-johns-class-action-says-cookies-arent-all-natural/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref> The case reached an agreement around 2021, however specific details surrounding the agreement are unknown.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 April 2026 |title=Martin v. Jimmy John's, LLC |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/martin-v-jimmy-john-893147018 |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=Vlex}}</ref>
[[File:Jimmy John's Raisin Oatmeal Cookie.jpg|thumb|Raisin Oatmeal Cookie]]
On 25 November, Heather Erwin and Ashley Price filed a lawsuit against Jimmy John's for misleading customers about its contents on their Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies, alleging since it contained non-natural ingredients like refined flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, sugar, milk powder, soy lecithin, and baking soda, all of which claims a consumer would consider as "on-natural, artificial, and/or highly processed" ingredients. Additionally, it also claims the company put deceptive labels on its products for "''the intent to induce consumers to purchase the cookies because of Defendants' false representations.''" <ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Honaker |first=Brigette |date=30 November 2020 |title=Jimmy John’s Cookies Aren’t All Natural, Class Action Lawsuit Says |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/all-natural-products/jimmy-johns-cookies-arent-all-natural-class-action-lawsuit-says/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref> On 8 October 2021, the plaintiffs dismissed the case with prejudice for undisclosed reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGlynn |first=Stephen |date=18 February 2026 |title=Erwin v. Jimmy John's LLC (3:20-cv-01268) |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18693016/erwin-v-jimmy-johns-llc/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=CourtListener}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Subway]]
*[[Popeyes]]
*[[Jersey Mike's]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Jimmy John's]]

Take Two

2026-04-07T03:40:59Z

Neige: KSP2 link

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=
|Founded=1993
|Industry=Video games
|Logo=Take-Two_Interactive_logo.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Holding Company
|Website=https://www.take2games.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Take-Two_Interactive|Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.]]''' is a New York City based video game holding company founded by Ryan Brant on September 30, 1993. The company owns three major publishing labels, [[Rockstar Games]], Zynga and 2K, which operate internal game development studios.

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Take-Two Interactive|Take-Two Interactive category]].

===2K - Faulty game launcher (''September 2022'')===
In September 2022, 2K released "quality of life" updates for the remastered versions of ''BioShock'', ''BioShock 2'', and ''BioShock Infinite'' on Steam, which [[Forced account|required account]] linking and forced launching the games through the 2K launcher. This change rendered the games unplayable for Linux users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolens |first=Joshua |date=7 Sep 2022 |title=2K's 'quality of life' change for BioShock is that Linux users can't play it anymore |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/2ks-quality-of-life-change-for-bioshock-is-that-linux-users-cant-play-it-anymore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907012552/https://www.pcgamer.com/2ks-quality-of-life-change-for-bioshock-is-that-linux-users-cant-play-it-anymore/ |archive-date=7 Sep 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>

===2K - Personal data breaches (''September 2022'')===
In September 2022, 2K experienced a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=CJ |date=21 Sep 2022 |title=Rockstar owner Take-Two's hacking woes continue as 2K confirm attack on their support service |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rockstar-owner-take-twos-hacking-woes-continue-as-2k-confirm-attack-on-their-support-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921151800/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rockstar-owner-take-twos-hacking-woes-continue-as-2k-confirm-attack-on-their-support-service |archive-date=21 Sep 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref> The stolen data was put up for sale including names, email addresses, and gamertags.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=11 Oct 2022 |title=2K confirms user data stolen and placed on sale after recent security breach |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2k-confirms-user-data-stolen-and-placed-on-sale-after-recent-security-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011204008/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2k-confirms-user-data-stolen-and-placed-on-sale-after-recent-security-breach |archive-date=11 Oct 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref>

===Shuttered studios===
{{Incomplete section}}
-Private Division shutdown - Main project [[Kerbal Space Program 2]] made abandonware in early access, players not refunded
[[wikipedia:2K_(company)|Wikipedia page ref]](note: use as springboard, find dedicated sources for history of buyouts and shuttering)

===''Spec Ops: The Line'' delisting (''January 2024'')===
On January 29, 2024, 2K removed ''Spec Ops: The Line'' from [[Steam]] without prior notice, due to expiring partnership licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=2K confirms Spec Ops: The Line has been removed from sale because of expiring 'partnership licenses' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/spec-ops-the-lines-sudden-removal-from-steam-baffles-its-director-why-has-this-happened/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130191822/https://www.pcgamer.com/spec-ops-the-lines-sudden-removal-from-steam-baffles-its-director-why-has-this-happened/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2024 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> Players who already owned the game can still download and play it.

===Microtransactions (MTX) and lootboxes===
{{Incomplete section}}
Ref should cover all 3 major companies owned by T2, ref covers 2k. Zynga's pioneering of predatory mtx needs to be covered (see cityville and Farmville games.) Rockstar, shark cards in GTAO? No clue how we could shoehorn this one.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Nick |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=NBA 2K Faces Lawsuit Over Controversial Microtransactions, Loot Boxes |url=https://screenrant.com/nba-2k-take-two-microtransactions-lawsuit-sports/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308194622/https://screenrant.com/nba-2k-take-two-microtransactions-lawsuit-sports/ |archive-date=8 Mar 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

===Borderlands Series - Terms of Service changes and alleged [[spyware]] (April 2025)===
{{Incomplete section}}
https://medium.com/@DarkRa/why-gamers-are-furious-over-take-two-and-2ks-new-terms-of-service-051e7a6a5594
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKMhqKzHxs&pp=ygUMdGFrZSB0d28gdG9z

Risk of Rain video game series - EULA update, which is the same as the Borderlands Series. (Risk of Rain was published by Gearbox, which all their games were affected by this EULA update.)

Grand Theft Auto also has the same EULA update from Take Two Interactive as the Borderlands Series and Risk of Rain.

==Take-Two Interactive — Abuses Related to Data Collection and Game Ownership==

===Data Collection Practices===

*'''Always-on tracking''': Take-Two collects gameplay data continuously, even in single-player modes. This includes hardware identifiers, crash logs, user behavior, and telemetry.
*'''Cross-service aggregation''': Data is collected across all Take-Two titles (e.g. ''GTA'', ''Red Dead'', ''NBA 2K''), websites, customer support interactions, and third-party services. This enables behavioral profiling without user transparency.
*'''[[Web cookie|Cookies]] and marketing surveillance''': Persistent cookies and tracking pixels are used for analytics and targeted advertising. User data may be shared with external partners, with no meaningful opt-out mechanism.
*'''Mandatory acceptance''': Users must accept all data collection terms to access the games or services. Refusal may lead to denied access or reduced functionality.

===No Ownership Over Games or Content===

*'''License, not purchase''': All Take-Two products, including physical and digital copies, are legally considered ''revocable licenses'', not owned goods. The company retains all property rights.
*'''Game access can be revoked''': Take-Two’s Terms of Service allow them to ''terminate the license'' at any time, for any reason. Once terminated, users ''lose access'' to the game—even if they paid full price.
*'''No refunds or compensation''': Upon license termination or account ban, Take-Two has no obligation to offer a refund or reinstate access. Games, accounts, and virtual items can disappear permanently.
*'''Virtual goods not guaranteed''': In-game currency, cosmetics, or stats (e.g. ''GTA Shark Cards'', ''NBA VC'') can be removed, altered, or rendered inaccessible at any time. Ownership claims are explicitly denied.

===Sample Terms Extract===
<blockquote>"You agree that your rights to access and use the Services are limited by this Agreement and that your license is revocable, non-exclusive, and non-transferable. Take-Two may suspend, terminate, or modify your access at its sole discretion…" {{Citation needed}}</blockquote>

===Summary===
Take-Two uses its Terms of Service to maintain '''total control''' over user data, gameplay behavior, and access rights. Despite charging full retail prices, the company:

*Treats all products as ''temporary, licensed experiences''.
*Reserves the right to '''revoke access without refund'''.
*Enforces '''extensive data collection''' with no opt-out.
*Allows '''removal of games from users’ libraries''', even post-purchase.

These practices undermine consumer rights by '''removing ownership''', eroding '''user privacy''', and ensuring '''legal asymmetry''' in disputes.

Last Update: June 2025

==Categories of Information Collected==
The following describes the types of information collected by Take-Two, according to their privacy policy:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=Take-Two Interactive Software Privacy Policy |url=https://www.take2games.com/privacy/en-US/#1-categories-of-information-collected |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Take2Games |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217145416/https://www.take2games.com/privacy/en-US/ |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref><blockquote>The type of information we collect depends on how you use the Services. Generally, we collect the following information:

*'''Identifiers / Contact Information''': Name, user name, gamertag, postal and email address, phone number, unique IDs, mobile device ID, platform ID, gaming service ID, advertising ID (IDFA, Android ID) and IP address
*'''Protected Characteristics''': Age and gender
*'''Commercial Information''': Purchase and usage history and preferences, including gameplay information
*'''Billing Information''': Payment information (credit / debit card information) and shipping address
*'''Internet / Electronic Activity''': Web / app browsing and gameplay information related to the Services; information about your online interaction(s) with the Services or our advertising; and details about the games and platforms you use and other information related to installed applications
*'''Device and Usage Data''': Device type, software and hardware details, language settings, browser type and version, operating system, and information about how users use and interact with the Services (e.g., content viewed, pages visited, clicks, scrolls)
*'''Profile Inferences''': Inferences made from your information and web activity to help create a personalized profile so we can identify goods and services that may be of interest
*'''Audio / Visual Information''': Account photos, images, and avatars, audio information via chat features and functionality, and gameplay recordings and video footage (such as when you participate in playtesting)
*'''Sensitive Information''': Precise location information (if you allow the Services to collect your location), account credentials (user name and password), and contents of communications via chat features and functionality.
</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Take-Two Interactive]]

E-Bike Tuning Detection: Bosch and Yamaha’s Anti-Tampering Systems

2026-04-05T19:58:23Z

Neige: Added company links and reduced large empty spaces.

{{SloppyAI}}
{{Incomplete}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|Company=Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano
|ReleaseYear=2020
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Vehicle
}}

This page still needs work and refinement.

There has been several reports over the years of (especially [[Bosch]], [[Yamaha]] and [[Shimano]]) of anti-tempering measures that detect illegal modification on E-Bikes that lead to penalty modes or even brick the whole product / hold it at ransom for re-activation.

There also have been reports of false-triggers that didn't involve any illegal modifications.

Is the $3,000 E-Bike you purchased truly yours to use and or modify as you please? Why should the manufacturer have the right to break your property based off of how you choose to use and or modify it? - This is a defect, not a feature.

=CONEBIs self-commitment against Tampering=

===CONEBI Self-Commitment for the Prevention of E-Bike Tampering===
The '''Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI)''' issued a self-commitment in September 2021 aimed at preventing the tampering of e-bikes and their drive systems. The document outlines the industry’s collective stance against the modification of E-Bikes, particularly modifications that increase the maximum supported speed. They stated '''technical risks, legal liabilities, warranty loss, and safety concerns to deter owners from using and or modifying their E-Bikes as they please.'''

Key measures include:

*Compliance with '''EN 15194:2017 anti-tampering standards'''.
*Ongoing evaluation and improvement of drive systems to resist manipulation.
*Awareness campaigns, training, and documentation for dealers and consumers.
*Cooperation with '''market surveillance authorities, police, governments, and testing institutes'''.
*Penalties for signatories that violate the commitment, including removal from the initiative.

The annex further details '''monitoring procedures''', potential consequences for violators, and provides a full list of '''national associations and companies, which''' include major manufacturers like Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha (via associations), Specialized, Trek, and Decathlon—that signed the commitment.

https://www.conebi.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Conebi_self-commitment_for_the_prevention_of_tampering_of_e-bikes_september_21.pdf

==Consumer-impact summary==

While the CONEBI self-commitment emphasizes safety, compliance, and legal conformity, critics argue that it can significantly limit '''consumer rights and ownership freedoms'''. By embedding increasingly strict tamper-detection systems in e-bike motors—such as those from '''Bosch and Yamaha'''—riders may face consequences even in cases of '''false positives''', where normal wear, aftermarket parts, or software irregularities trigger a “tampering” flag.

Key consumer concerns include:

*'''Loss of warranty and guarantee rights''': Riders risk losing manufacturer support for products they legally purchased, even if no intentional tampering occurred.
*'''Restricted repair and modification freedom''': Independent servicing and use of non-OEM parts may inadvertently activate anti-tamper systems, limiting consumer choice.
*'''Financial and legal risks''': A flagged system can reduce the resale value of the bike, create liability disputes in accidents, or even expose the rider to criminal penalties.
*'''“Hostage” reactivation fees''': Some systems reportedly disable motor support once tampering is suspected and require an '''authorized dealer reset''', often at a cost to the consumer. This practice has been criticized as effectively holding the bike hostage until the rider pays to have it reactivated.
*'''One-sided enforcement''': The industry’s “self-justice” model gives manufacturers and associations the power to act as both regulator and enforcer, with limited avenues for consumer appeal.

This has raised debates over whether the balance between '''safety regulation''' and '''consumer rights''' is being maintained, or whether riders are effectively being held “hostage” by proprietary anti-tamper technologies and forced to pay additional costs to continue using their own property.

===On Bosch Systems :===
You get 3 Flags whenever a Anomaly has been detected that might indicate a Illegal Tuning Modification, after each Flag the EBike goes into Limp Mode which disables the motor past a few km/h for up to 90 minutes.

After the thrid Strike, the Motor permanently stays in Limp mode until you go to a Dealer and reset it for a fee.

Method of skipping the 90 minute limp mode after a false-trigger using a drill turning the crank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOgFicC70k

it can be disabled using the bosch diagnostics sofware which is only available to authorized dealers.

===On Yamaha Systems (Haibike, Winora, Giant):===
Once a anomaly has been detected, the Display starts blinking "Odo/Trip/Range" or shows "Check Spd Sens" on C type Displays.

It wont reset itself, the Dealer cannot reset it (or wont), the only solution was provided by a third party repair shop "eBike-Doktor" for a fee.

Without the third party, the only option would be to buy a new Motor for upwards of 600 EUR.

it is not publicly known how it gets fixed, but from experience the eeprom probably gets desoldered and a bit flipped to make it work again. this doesnt disable the detection.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/nz/e-bike-tampering

===On Shimano systems===
"Shimano has also announced that its new STEPS system is equipped with a sensor that can detect tampering. The sensor will then trigger an error warning code on the display, after which, the system will automatically go into Safe Mode. In order to resolve the error, the bike will have to be brought to an authorized Shimano service center for inspection and repair. "

https://insideevs.com/news/659762/shimano-warning-tampering-systems/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

==Incidents==

There has been several incidents with and without Illegal Modifications where the Systems have false triggered and force the user to enter Limp Mode or pay a Ransom at the Dealer or third-party repair shop, with the alternative of buying a new motor.

There are several discussions about incidents, but with a lot of Noise and unrelated posts and content inbetween.

to name a few

===Disabled by actual tampering attempts:===
https://web.archive.org/web/20250915102133/https://www.pedelecforum.de/forum/index.php?threads/selbstzerstoerungsmodus-bei-yamaha-pw-te-wieder-zurueck-setzen-bzw-aufheben-anzeige-odo-trip-range-blinkt-und-der-motor-unterstuetzt-nur-bis-4-km-h.111616/

===Disabled by Hard or Software failure, without tampering / modifications.===
https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/bosch-error-code-504-without-tuning-speedbox.15900/

[https://www.emtb-news.de/forum/threads/fehler-504-bei-bosch-auch-ohne-tuning.6307/page-14 https://www.emtb-news.de/forum/threads/fehler-504-bei-bosch-auch-ohne-tuning.6307]

===Several reports of incidents by individuals, with or without modification.===
https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/comments/pka4tv/did_anyone_ever_had_their_bosch_ebike_locked/
==Products==

Yamaha Ebike motors PW-TE from 2021 or and later.

Bosch CX / Performance Line from 2020 and later.

...

=Legality=

===Legal Status and Implications of E-Bike Tampering in the EU===
In the European Union, the legal classification of electric bicycles (e-bikes) hinges on specific technical criteria outlined in Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 and the European Standard EN 15194:2017. To be considered a standard bicycle, an e-bike must meet the following conditions:

*'''Maximum continuous rated motor power''' of '''250 watts'''.
*'''Motor assistance cuts off at 25 km/h''' (15.5 mph).
*'''Pedal assistance only'''; the motor engages solely when the rider is pedaling.

E-bikes meeting these criteria are classified as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EPACs) and are exempt from type approval requirements, allowing them to be used on public roads without the need for registration, insurance, or licensing https://de.fafreesebike.com/blogs/knowledge/european-ebike-laws-guide.

However, tampering with an e-bike to exceed these limits—such as using tuning kits to increase speed or power—transforms the vehicle's legal status. Such modifications can reclassify the e-bike as a motor vehicle, subjecting it to stricter regulations, including the need for type approval, registration, insurance, and licensing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bicycle_laws

The Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and national industry bodies, such as the German Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV), strongly oppose e-bike tampering. They highlight the associated risks, including safety hazards, legal consequences, and potential damage to the e-bike's drive system https://www.ziv-zweirad.de/en/e-bike-tuning/

Regarding the use of e-bikes on private property, while national laws may vary, tampering with e-bikes can still lead to legal issues. In some jurisdictions, using tampered e-bikes on private land may violate consumer protection laws or warranty agreements. Additionally, manufacturers may disable motor assistance if tampering is detected, rendering the e-bike inoperable until reactivated by an authorized dealer, often at the owner's expense.

False positives in tamper detection systems can further complicate matters. Instances have been reported where e-bikes were flagged for tampering without any intentional modifications, leading to unnecessary service interventions and potential warranty disputes [https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/comments/1cmtep1/stop_manufacturers_from_disabling_privatelyowned/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/comments/1cmtep1/stop_manufacturers_from_disabling_privatelyowned/]
===Legal Implications for Manufacturers===
E-bike anti-tamper systems that '''disable or “brick” consumer-owned bikes'''—effectively holding them at ransom until the rider pays a reactivation fee—have raised concerns about '''manufacturer overreach and potential legal liability'''.

Key legal issues include:

*'''Property rights and ownership:''' Once a consumer purchases an e-bike, it is their property. Manufacturer-initiated disabling of the bike without consent can be seen as '''interfering with private property''' and may expose the manufacturer to civil claims.
*'''Due process concerns:''' In many jurisdictions, consumers are entitled to '''notice, evidence, and opportunity to contest allegations''' before punitive measures are taken. Automated anti-tamper lockdowns bypass these legal safeguards, creating a risk of '''unlawful deprivation''' of property.
*'''Consumer protection laws:''' Several EU and national laws protect buyers from '''unfair commercial practices''', including arbitrary restriction of access to purchased goods. Bricking or demanding payment for reactivation may be interpreted as '''coercive or unfair business conduct'''.
*'''Warranty and contract disputes:''' Even when a manufacturer claims warranty terms permit such actions, enforcement may be challenged if the system '''flags false positives''', as the consumer may have '''fully complied with legal e-bike standards'''.
*'''Potential class-action exposure:''' Widespread deployment of “ransom-style” anti-tamper systems could expose manufacturers to collective legal action if multiple consumers are affected.

In practice, manufacturers that use anti-tamper measures to disable bikes without trial, adjudication, or consumer consent '''walk a fine line between safety enforcement and illegal expropriation'''. Legal scholars and consumer advocates argue that proper safeguards—such as independent verification, appeals processes, or court involvement—are necessary to prevent abuse.

==Petition against==
There has been a petition on change.org to push against holding what we bought and paid for hostage or pay a ransom to make it work again

unfourtainly, its been up for quite a while and havent got any traction as only the people that get hit by these systems, look into solutions.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-manufacturers-from-disabling-privately-owned-electric-bicycles-without-consent?recruiter=851092947&recruited_by_id=8ef0a980-fdc9-11e7-ad5d-7f5d08e08c48&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_medium=copylink
==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Shimano

2026-04-03T16:11:25Z

Neige: Unlike Bosch, it appears that Shimano lets customers buy the expensive diagnostic tools.

Kerbal Space Program 2 still sold despite remaining unfinished

2026-03-22T15:44:19Z

Neige: Take-two page link

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Take Two, Private Division
|StartDate=2019
|EndDate=2025
|Status=Active
|Product=KSP2
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Product Termination, Abandonware
|Description=KSP2 turned into abandonware, still being sold and charging full price for the game that was never finished.
}}''[[wikipedia:Kerbal_Space_Program_2|'''Kerbal Space Program 2''']]'' is a game designed by Intercept Games and published by Private Division as a sequel to ''Kerbal Space Program''. It was released on Steam in early access on February 24, 2023. Currently, the game is still in early access and costs $49.99.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/954850/Kerbal_Space_Program_2/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118091424/https://store.steampowered.com/app/954850/Kerbal_Space_Program_2/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref> Steam lists no updates to the game since June 11, 2024.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/954850?updates=true |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam News Hub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825183807/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/954850?updates=true |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref>

==Background==
''Kerbal Space Program 2'' entered development in 2017 and was initially planned for release in 2020. Development issues pushed back the release of the early access version to February 24, 2023.

==Incident==
On April 29, 2024, [[Take Two|Take-Two]] Interactive Software, the owner of Private Division and Intercept Games, posted a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification to the Washington State Employment Security Department indicating that they planned to close their subsidiary Intercept Games, the developer of ''Kerbal Space Program 2'', on June 28, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) |url=https://esd.wa.gov/about-employees/WARN |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241103073147/https://esd.wa.gov/about-employees/warn |archive-date=3 Nov 2024|access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=ESDWAGOV}}</ref> Senior team manager Quinn Duffy confirmed on LinkedIn that the team would be laid off on that day, <ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Quinn |title=Post |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/quinn-duffy_well-here-we-go-again-the-team-at-intercept-activity-7201280703215394816-uyzd/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=LinkedIn |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240731205415/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/quinn-duffy_well-here-we-go-again-the-team-at-intercept-activity-7201280703215394816-uyzd/ |archive-date=31 Jul 2024}}</ref> although Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed otherwise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=16 May 2024 |title=Take-Two CEO on Intercept, Roll7: 'We Didn't Shutter Those Studios' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-on-intercept-roll7-we-didnt-shutter-those-studios |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=IGN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213052418/https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-on-intercept-roll7-we-didnt-shutter-those-studios |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> Take-Two later confirmed the sale of Private Division, ''Kerbal''<nowiki/>'s publisher, to an unknown buyer, preferring to focus on AAA titles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=6 Nov 2024 |title=Zelnick on Private Division sale: "Those projects were smaller, we're in the business of big hits" |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zelnick-on-private-division-sale-those-projects-were-smaller-were-in-the-business-of-big-hits |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219035055/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zelnick-on-private-division-sale-those-projects-were-smaller-were-in-the-business-of-big-hits |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

''Kerbal Space Program 2'' has not seen any updates since June 11, 2024 and remains in early access.<ref name=":1" />

==Consumer response==
''Kerbal Space Program'' fans and buyers left over 4,000 negative reviews on the sequel's Steam page within the three months following the announcement of Intercept Games' closure. At the same time, positive reviews diminished sharply, bringing the Steam page's all-time average to "Mostly Negative."<ref name=":0" />

One recent Steam review with over 500 "helpful" ratings reads:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minderbinder |first=Milo |date=26 Jul 2025 |title=Review for Kerbal Space Program 2 |url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/thatissoawsome/recommended/954850/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Steam Community}}</ref><blockquote>Abandonware. This should at least be removed from the steam store and ideally all people who purchased the game should be refunded.

Do not buy. Get KSP1. Do not fund these practices.</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Subaru Starlink

2026-03-22T15:20:40Z

Neige: Subaru link

''For the satellite {{wplink|internet service provider}}, see [[Starlink]].''
{{ProductLineCargo
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Software
|Company=Subaru
|Description=
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Subaru-starlink.png
|ReleaseYear=2013
|Website=https://subaru.com/
}}
Starlink is a connectivity service equipped on most modern [[Subaru]] vehicles, enabling extensive data collection from the vehicle and its occupants. The service has faced significant criticism and legal challenges over privacy concerns related to its data-collection and -sharing practices.<ref name="MozillaReview" />

==Incidents==

===Obstructive advertising===
Since at least 23-05-25<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Just die already SiriusXM |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/subaru/comments/13rl630/just_die_already_siriusxm/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222225614/https://old.reddit.com/r/subaru/comments/13rl630/just_die_already_siriusxm/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-11-27 |website=Reddit}}</ref>, Subaru Starlink will sometimes display whole-screen advertisements for [[SiriusXM]] in vehicles with SiriusXM functionality<ref name=":0" />. Advertisements will display regardless of whether the customer purchased a SiriusXM subscription, and cannot be bypassed without explicitly pressing the close button. Normal system usage, such as GPS, media settings, or driving settings cannot be done until the advertisements are closed.

Users are only able to opt-out of this advertising if they have a SiriusXM subscription, which itself will require consent to additional telemetry from SiriusXM<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-27 |title=SiriusXM Help & Support Center |url=https://listenercare.siriusxm.com/prweb/autoredirect/app/ExternalKM/help/SupportCenter/article/KC-383215/How-do-I-manage-pop-up-messages-inside-my-vehicle%3F |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126212422/https://listenercare.siriusxm.com/prweb/autoredirect/app/ExternalKM/help/SupportCenter/article/KC-383215/How-do-I-manage-pop-up-messages-inside-my-vehicle%3F |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>. Alternative recourse would involve manually uninstalling the telematics module or pulling the fuse powering the telematics module to disable connectivity. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-27 |title=No sound in front speakers / Mic is missing (Something with Starlink plugs?) - Resolved {{!}} Subaru Crosstrek and XV Forums |url=https://www.subaruxvforum.com/threads/no-sound-in-front-speakers-mic-is-missing-something-with-starlink-plugs-resolved.180778/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126213325/https://www.subaruxvforum.com/threads/no-sound-in-front-speakers-mic-is-missing-something-with-starlink-plugs-resolved.180778/ |archive-date=26 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-27 |website=Subaru Crosstrek and XV Forums}}</ref> However, this can disable front audio speakers on certain models due to the fuse powering both Starlink telematics and the front speakers<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-02 |title=Disconnecting your telematics (Starlink) antenna {{!}} Subaru Outback Forums |url=https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/disconnecting-your-telematics-starlink-antenna.519259/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514174802/https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/disconnecting-your-telematics-starlink-antenna.519259/ |archive-date=14 May 2023 |access-date=2025-11-27 |website=Subaru Outback Forums}}</ref>.

===Starlink app exploit (''2025'')===
The exploit was achieved by intercepting the Starlink app's network requests which revealed the admin portal login screen. Using the "Reset password" feature of the admin portal which was hidden with [[JavaScript]] the hacker found an employee email off [[LinkedIn]] and successfully managed to login to the admin portal. Although implementing 2FA this too was entirely client-side and the modal window blocking further interaction without verification could also be hidden with JavaScript.

Inside the admin portal any employee can access a wide range of personal information, largely comprised of the personal information listed below. Additionally, if the employee has level 2 access, they can remotely lock, unlock, honk, issue speeding warnings and more which they demonstrated on their own and a friend's Subaru car.

The incident was initially ethically disclosed to Subaru on 24-20-11 with a blog post detailing the exploit released on 25-23-01.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Curry |first=Sam |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Hacking Subaru: Tracking and Controlling Cars via the STARLINK Admin Panel |url=https://samcurry.net/hacking-subaru |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251115022030/https://samcurry.net/hacking-subaru |archive-date=15 Nov 2025|access-date=2025-02-19 |website=samcurry.net}}</ref>

==Data collection==
===Types of data collected===
Subaru’s privacy policy and STARLINK terms of service specify that the following data may be collected:<ref name="SubaruPrivacy">{{Cite web |date= |title=Subaru Privacy Policy |url=https://www.subaru.com/support/privacy-policies.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221075725/https://www.subaru.com/support/privacy-policies.html |archive-date=21 Feb 2025 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=subaru.com}}</ref>

*'''Personal information'''
**Names, addresses, and contact details.
**Phone numbers and email addresses.
**Social-security numbers (in specific cases).
**Driver's license numbers.
**Vehicle identification numbers (VIN).
*'''Vehicle data'''
**Location and GPS coordinates.
**Speed, acceleration, and braking patterns.
**Time and duration of trips.
**Maintenance and diagnostic information.
**Sensor data, such as crash severity, tire pressure, and coolant temperature.
*'''Audio and biometric data'''
**Audio recordings through onboard microphones.
**Voice data from STARLINK service-center calls.
**Biometric data from systems that driver attention.
**Search content and commands issued by occupants.

===Collection methods===
Data collection is performed through:
*Vehicle sensors and diagnostic modules.<ref name="MozillaReview">{{Cite web |last=Mozilla Research |first= |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=Mozilla Foundation Privacy Review: Subaru |url=https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/subaru/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906050929/https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/subaru/ |archive-date=6 Sep 2023 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=foundation.mozilla.org}}</ref>
*GPS tracking systems.
*Cellular-connectivity modules.
*STARLINK mobile apps and web portals.<ref name="MozillaReview" />

==Data sharing and sales==
===Third-party data sharing===
Subaru shares data with several entities, including:
*Data brokers, such as LexisNexis<ref name="SubaruPrivacy" /> and Verisk.<ref name="TorqueNews">{{Cite web |last=Flierl |first=Denis |date=21 May 2024 |title=Vehicle Data Collection Lawsuit |url=https://www.torquenews.com/1084/subaru-now-involved-vehicle-data-collection-lawsuit-investigation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250801220315/https://www.torquenews.com/1084/subaru-now-involved-vehicle-data-collection-lawsuit-investigation |archive-date=1 Aug 2025|access-date=2025-01-16 |website=torquenews.com}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Kashmir |date=11 March 2024 |title=Automakers Are Sharing Drivers’ Data |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/technology/carmakers-driver-tracking-insurance.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311090514/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/technology/carmakers-driver-tracking-insurance.html |archive-date=11 Mar 2024 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=nytimes.com}}</ref>
*Insurance companies for risk assessment and pricing.<ref name="TorqueNews" />
*Marketing firms.
*Emergency services and law enforcement (when required by law).
*Subaru dealerships and distributors.
*Third-party service providers.<ref name="SubaruPrivacy" />
===Insurance-industry usage===
Data brokers aggregate and sell this information to insurance companies, who may:
*Increase insurance premiums based on driving patterns.
*Monitor driving behaviors to assess risk.
*Use driving data for personalized coverage offerings.<ref name="NYT" />

==Privacy concerns==
===Consent issues===
Key concerns include:
*Simply being a passenger in a STARLINK-equipped vehicle constitutes consent.<ref name="MozillaReview" />
*Lack of active notification during data collection.
*Limited opt-out options that might impact vehicle functionality.

===Difficulties in opting out===
Subaru’s opt-out process involves:
*Submitting detailed personal information.
*Potentially long response times.
*No verification mechanism for successful opt-out.<ref name="ConsumerForum">{{Cite web |date=26 Jan 2025 |title=Privacy Report Discussion |url=https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/privacy-not-included-subaru-report-connected-services-etc.556583/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250510152056/https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/privacy-not-included-subaru-report-connected-services-etc.556583/ |archive-date=10 May 2025 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=subaruoutback.org}}</ref>

===Legal challenges===
Subaru faces legal scrutiny for:
*Allegations of insufficiently disclosing its data-collection policies what it does with data.
*Potential non-compliance with privacy laws.
*[[Class-action lawsuit]] investigations over consent practices.<ref name="TorqueNews" />

==Technical details==
===System architecture===
STARLINK is built upon:
*Embedded telematics devices.
*4G LTE cellular networks.
*GPS receivers and cloud-based data-processing systems.<ref name="StarlinkTerms">{{Cite web |title=Subaru STARLINK Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.subaru.com/support/terms-and-conditions/subaru-starlink/subaru-starlink-services.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708205238/https://www.subaru.com/support/terms-and-conditions/subaru-starlink/subaru-starlink-services.html |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=subaru.com}}</ref>

===Data transmission===
*Real-time data transmission through LTE networks.
*Local storage when connectivity is unavailable.<ref name="StarlinkTerms" />

==Consumer-protection issues==
===Privacy rights===
Critics cite:
*Minimal control over data retention.
*Broad sharing permissions in privacy policies.
*Limited transparency about how data is used.<ref name="MozillaReview" />

===Economic harm===
*Insurance-rate adjustments based on driving data.
*Subscription fees for connected services.
*Potential effects on vehicle resale value.<ref name="NYT" />

==References==
<references />

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]