Flock Mandates Safety Tool to Prevent License Plate Data Misuse
Flock announced it will require all agencies using its license plate reader data to implement a safety tool designed to detect and prevent misuse of the system for stalking purposes.
Flock Group Inc. is making its audit assistance tool mandatory for all law enforcement agencies that access its license plate reader data, the company announced Thursday. This tool is designed to automatically detect abnormal user activity and suspend access for officers suspected of abusing the system to stalk personal acquaintances.
The technology, previously available as an optional free feature since April, suspends an agency's access if user activity meets predefined criteria for abnormal behavior. Access can only be reinstated after an administrator review, aiming to prevent recurring or widespread misuse.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley stated that the decision to mandate the tool was influenced by multiple incidents where law enforcement officers allegedly used the company's cameras to stalk individuals. A specific case in Georgia involved a sheriff's office using the tool to identify and subsequently arrest three officers for such abuses.
According to Flock, only about a third of agencies had voluntarily adopted the safety feature prior to the mandate. The company now aims to ensure greater accountability and prevent the recurrence of misuse incidents across its network.