Flock Safety is implementing new privacy guardrails for its automated license plate reader technology following backlash over misuse concerns and mass surveillance allegations.
The move comes as law enforcement agencies increasingly deploy Flock's cameras to track vehicles across neighborhoods and jurisdictions. The company's CEO has pushed back against criticism, stating the technology is not designed for mass surveillance.
Flock Safety says the new safeguards will address how police departments access and use license plate data. The company operates networks of fixed and mobile cameras that capture plate information and cross-reference it with databases.
Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the technology's scope and the lack of oversight in its deployment. Flock Safety counters that its platform helps law enforcement solve crimes and locate stolen vehicles.
The guardrails represent an attempt to balance law enforcement capabilities with privacy protections. Details on the specific safeguards remain limited, though the company has signaled stricter controls on data access and use.
Flock's CEO acknowledged the company failed to prevent law enforcement misuse of its tracking data and announced new policy changes to address the problem.
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