Flock is tightening its rules in response to a growing surveillance backlash

TL;DR

Flock is changing officer access to its license plate reader network amid backlash and lost contracts.
New rules require officers to enter a criminal case number before conducting a search, a feature previously optional.
An automatic auditing system to catch suspicious searches is now mandatory, replacing an optional feature.
The company recommends agencies retain data for seven days instead of 30, and allows agencies to limit data searches by other departments.
Critics argue the new safeguards have loopholes and depend on officers accurately reporting search purposes.
Backlash against Flock includes accusations of contributing to a "slave state" and reports of cities dropping contracts.
The ACLU argues the backlash is driven by the scale of surveillance enabled by Flock's cameras, allowing investigations without initial suspicion of a crime.
Flock's CEO attributes lost customers to misinformation, denying allegations of facial recognition or selling data.
Civil liberties groups like the ACLU believe Flock's changes are incremental and call for independent review of their systems.
The ACLU suggests Flock is at a crossroads due to nationwide opposition but is unwilling to make more substantial changes.

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