Flock License Plate Readers: Difference between revisions
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'''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=2024-12-06|archive-url=https://archive.ph/UjKM5|archive-date=2024-12-06|url-status=dead}}</ref>), are a network of AI-powered surveillance cameras that record vehicle data for law enforcement agencies. The system operates in over 6,000 communities across 49 U.S. states, performing over 20 billion vehicle scans monthly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe|title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe|work=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=2025-06-01|access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref> | '''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=2024-12-06|archive-url=https://archive.ph/UjKM5|archive-date=2024-12-06|url-status=dead}}</ref>), are a network of AI-powered surveillance cameras that record vehicle data for law enforcement agencies. The system operates in over 6,000 communities across 49 U.S. states, performing over 20 billion vehicle scans monthly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/flock-safetys-feature-updates-cannot-make-automated-license-plate-readers-safe|title=Flock Safety's Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe|work=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=2025-06-01|access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref> | ||
== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
====Freedom==== | ====Freedom==== | ||
Residents and taxpayers have no mechanism to opt out of Flock'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=2024-06-19 |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 |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Forbes}}</ref> This data can later be integrated into predictive police platforms like Palantir.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rettberg |first=Jill Walker |title=Machine Vision: How Algorithms are Changing the Way We See the World |date=September 11, 2023 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons. |year=2023 |location=Google Books |pages=45-46 |language=English}}</ref> | 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=2024-06-19 |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 |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Forbes}}</ref> This data can later be integrated into predictive police platforms like Palantir.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rettberg |first=Jill Walker |title=Machine Vision: How Algorithms are Changing the Way We See the World |date=September 11, 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 40,000 cameras makes avoidance increasingly difficult.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deflock.me/|title=Find Nearby ALPRs|work=DeFlock|access-date=2025-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250728224453/https://deflock.me/|archive-date=2025-07-28|url-status=live}}</ref> The system uses AI to create ''"Vehicle Fingerprints"'' that identify vehicles by characteristics beyond license plates, including make, model, color, aftermarket parts, window stickers, and roof racks.<ref>{{Cite web|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|title=Surveillance Company Flock Now Using AI to Report Us to Police if it Thinks Our Movement Patterns Are "Suspicious"|work=American Civil Liberties Union|date=2024|access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref> | Unlike traditional security cameras that may be avoided by choosing different routes, Flock's expanding network of over 40,000 cameras makes avoidance increasingly difficult.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deflock.me/|title=Find Nearby ALPRs|work=DeFlock|access-date=2025-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250728224453/https://deflock.me/|archive-date=2025-07-28|url-status=live}}</ref> The system uses AI to create ''"Vehicle Fingerprints"'' that identify vehicles by characteristics beyond license plates, including make, model, color, aftermarket parts, window stickers, and roof racks.<ref>{{Cite web|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|title=Surveillance Company Flock Now Using AI to Report Us to Police if it Thinks Our Movement Patterns Are "Suspicious"|work=American Civil Liberties Union|date=2024|access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref> | ||
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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}}</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}}</ref> | ||
==Other | ==Other surveillance products== | ||
=====Flock Aerodome "Drone as First Responder"===== | =====Flock Aerodome "Drone as First Responder"===== | ||
Flock Safety also offers an all-in-one drone product which integrates into the Flock AI Surveillance Network as well as local law enforcement's Computer Aided Dispatch software. The Drones are outfitted with live video cameras, thermal imaging, night vision, and potentially other sensors, and are capable of self-launching and self-navigating.<sup>[https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-aerodome]</sup> Flock Safety cites following potential use-cases: <blockquote>Drones are stationed across your service area, ready to respond instantly... Deploy from the dock to geo-coordinates of 911 calls, LPR hits, gunshot detection, or manually by the operator... Control multiple drones and docks with a single operator, providing continuous air support for the entire city.</blockquote>Rahul Sidhu, VP of Aviation at Flock Safety, works directly with FAA officials and actively lobbies Congress to gain favorable legislation which seeks to expand Flock Safety's surveillance network and further diminish citizen privacy. [https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-commends-legislators-on-introduction-of-drone-act-of-2025][https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/jon-mcbride-joins-flock-safety][https://www.police1.com/drones/calif-pd-secures-first-faa-waiver-to-operate-dfr-program-at-400-feet-citywide] | Flock Safety also offers an all-in-one drone product which integrates into the Flock AI Surveillance Network as well as local law enforcement's Computer Aided Dispatch software. The Drones are outfitted with live video cameras, thermal imaging, night vision, and potentially other sensors, and are capable of self-launching and self-navigating.<sup>[https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-aerodome]</sup> Flock Safety cites following potential use-cases: <blockquote>Drones are stationed across your service area, ready to respond instantly... Deploy from the dock to geo-coordinates of 911 calls, LPR hits, gunshot detection, or manually by the operator... Control multiple drones and docks with a single operator, providing continuous air support for the entire city.</blockquote>Rahul Sidhu, VP of Aviation at Flock Safety, works directly with FAA officials and actively lobbies Congress to gain favorable legislation which seeks to expand Flock Safety's surveillance network and further diminish citizen privacy. [https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-commends-legislators-on-introduction-of-drone-act-of-2025][https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/jon-mcbride-joins-flock-safety][https://www.police1.com/drones/calif-pd-secures-first-faa-waiver-to-operate-dfr-program-at-400-feet-citywide] | ||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
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==Camera | ==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 | 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 | ||