tech
Flock is tightening its safeguards as America reckons with a rapidly expanding surveillance network
On Thursday, CEO Garrett Langley outlined new safety and privacy changes for the surveillance camera network "that came from listening."
TL;DR
- Flock is implementing new privacy and accountability safeguards for its surveillance camera network.
- The company is shortening the recommended default retention period for license plate data from 30 to 7 days.
- Law enforcement customers will be required to use a tool to flag potentially improper searches and input case codes for searches by the end of the year.
- Flock's cameras capture license plate data, vehicle features, and are used by law enforcement to track vehicles and locate suspects.
- Concerns over privacy, data sharing, and potential misuse have led to contract cancellations in dozens of communities.
- Reports have highlighted instances of misreads by Flock's cameras leading to wrongful stops and detentions of innocent individuals.
- At least 50 law-enforcement officers have been charged or accused of misusing license-plate-reader systems, with Flock cameras used in 46 of those cases.