Changes

===Automated License Plate Readers===

===Automated License Plate Readers===

[[File:Flock Safety ALPR Camera (Falcon).png|thumb|A Flock Falcon camera]]

[[File:Flock Safety ALPR Camera (Falcon).png|thumb|A Flock Falcon camera]]

Traditional [[Automated license plate reader|Automated License Plate Readers]] (ALPRs) read license plates, and create a log of every license plate entering or leaving a location, with its time/date stamp.<ref>https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/saver/automatic-license-plate-readers</ref> Flock's ALPRs essentially do this as well, but they also collect dozens of other data points about every vehicle, including, make, model, color, modifications (custom rims, trailer hitches, etc), visible damage, and photos of bumper stickers.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/not-all-lprs-are-created-equal</ref><ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers</ref> The license plate is not actually read by the roadside scanner, but the photographs are processed by Flock's servers to extract the license plate's contents.<ref name="404 firmware dump">https://www.404media.co/hackers-stole-flocks-camera-software-revealing-how-the-company-tracks-cars-and-people-2/</ref>  

Traditional [[Automated license plate reader|Automated License Plate Readers]] (ALPRs) read license plates, and create a log of every license plate entering or leaving a location, with its time/date stamp.<ref>https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/saver/automatic-license-plate-readers</ref> Flock's ALPRs essentially do this as well, but they also collect dozens of other data points about every vehicle, including, make, model, color, modifications (custom rims, trailer hitches, etc.), visible damage, and photos of bumper stickers.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/not-all-lprs-are-created-equal</ref><ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/license-plate-readers</ref> The license plate is not actually read by the roadside scanner, but the photographs are processed by Flock's servers to extract the license plate's contents.<ref name="404 firmware dump">https://www.404media.co/hackers-stole-flocks-camera-software-revealing-how-the-company-tracks-cars-and-people-2/</ref>  

Flock uses all of these data points to create what they call a "Vehicle Fingerprint"<ref>https://www.myvendorlink.com/external/vfile?d=vrf&s=137266&v=76605&sv=0&i=4&ft=b</ref> which can be used to track that vehicle even if the license plate is obscured or removed.<ref>https://www.stopflock.com/</ref> Every vehicle passing by is scanned and indexed, with its location and time included. On average, 28 photographs are captured of each passing vehicle (although sometimes that quantity exceeds one hundred).<ref name="404 firmware dump">https://www.404media.co/hackers-stole-flocks-camera-software-revealing-how-the-company-tracks-cars-and-people-2/</ref> This identifying data, including a photo of the license plate and wider photo of the whole vehicle, are uploaded using a cellular connection from each roadside scanner, to Flock Nova, their analytics and search platform.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-nova</ref> Their stated goal is to build a "unified network" of these ALPRs, so that a vehicle cannot travel the roads without ALPRs reporting its location.<ref>https://orangeowl.marketing/unicorn-chronicles/flock-safety-success-story/</ref>  As that vehicle continues to drive, it will continue passing numerous ALPRs along its journey, enabling near-realtime location tracking of the vehicle, as well as everything needed to determine the personal identification of the driver.

Flock uses all of these data points to create what they call a "Vehicle Fingerprint"<ref>https://www.myvendorlink.com/external/vfile?d=vrf&s=137266&v=76605&sv=0&i=4&ft=b</ref> which can be used to track that vehicle even if the license plate is obscured or removed.<ref>https://www.stopflock.com/</ref> Every vehicle passing by is scanned and indexed, with its location and time included. On average, 28 photographs are captured of each passing vehicle (although sometimes that quantity exceeds one hundred).<ref name="404 firmware dump"/> This identifying data, including a photo of the license plate and wider photo of the whole vehicle, are uploaded using a cellular connection from each roadside scanner, to Flock Nova, their analytics and search platform.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/flock-nova</ref> Their stated goal is to build a "unified network" of these ALPRs, so that a vehicle cannot travel the roads without ALPRs reporting its location.<ref>https://orangeowl.marketing/unicorn-chronicles/flock-safety-success-story/</ref>  As that vehicle continues to drive, it will continue passing numerous ALPRs along its journey, enabling near-realtime location tracking of the vehicle, as well as everything needed to determine the personal identification of the driver.

The main Flock ALPR product line, is named, "falcon." The standard model runs on an Android OS, with a Snapdragon 625 processor, 2GB RAM, 29GB storage, Wi-Fi, GPS, and onboard AI (YOLO + OpenCV)<ref>https://eyesoffcr.org/blog/blog-8.html</ref> There are several variants, including a long range, short range, and "flex" option (for temporary installation). Flock also previously referenced the "Sparrow" ALPR line, which was a neighborhood-oriented surveillance device, which is visually almost identical to Falcon.<ref name="how-to-spot">https://deflocksign.com/blogs/resources/how-to-spot-a-flock-camera</ref>

The main Flock ALPR product line, is named, "falcon." The standard model runs on an Android OS, with a Snapdragon 625 processor, 2GB RAM, 29GB storage, Wi-Fi, GPS, and onboard AI (YOLO + OpenCV)<ref>https://eyesoffcr.org/blog/blog-8.html</ref> There are several variants, including a long range, short range, and "flex" option (for temporary installation). Flock also previously referenced the "Sparrow" ALPR line, which was a neighborhood-oriented surveillance device, which is visually almost identical to Falcon.<ref name="how-to-spot">https://deflocksign.com/blogs/resources/how-to-spot-a-flock-camera</ref>

For more secretive deployments, Flock also partners with [[All Traffic Solutions]] to conceal Falcon vehicle scanners in speed enforcement trailers.<ref>https://www.alltrafficsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025ATS_FLOCK_LPR_TrailersBrochure_062325.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.alltrafficsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FlockApproved_PartnerOnePager.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/mobile-security-trailer</ref>

For more secretive deployments, Flock also partners with [[All Traffic Solutions]] to conceal Falcon vehicle scanners in speed enforcement trailers.<ref>https://www.alltrafficsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025ATS_FLOCK_LPR_TrailersBrochure_062325.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.alltrafficsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FlockApproved_PartnerOnePager.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/mobile-security-trailer</ref>

===Human Tracking Cameras===  

===Human Tracking Cameras===

Flock also offers surveillance cameras which identify and track individual people within the surveillance area. These typically have the additional ability to scan license places, but they are intended primarily to identify and track individuals, absent their vehicles.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/webinar/introducing-condor-live-and-recorded-video</ref> These were found in early 2026 to contain major cybersecurity issues (ignoring the privacy and legal issues), but Flock chose to deny the existence of those problems, while threatening to file lawsuits against the security researchers who discovered the problems.<ref>https://www.independent.org/article/2026/01/14/flock-condor-camera-spy-public/</ref>

Flock also offers surveillance cameras which identify and track individual people within the surveillance area. These typically have the additional ability to scan license places, but they are intended primarily to identify and track individuals, absent their vehicles.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/webinar/introducing-condor-live-and-recorded-video</ref> These were found in early 2026 to contain major cybersecurity issues (ignoring the privacy and legal issues), but Flock chose to deny the existence of those problems, while threatening to file lawsuits against the security researchers who discovered the problems.<ref>https://www.independent.org/article/2026/01/14/flock-condor-camera-spy-public/</ref>

Flock offers both PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) Condor cameras, designed to be remotely controlled (by a human or the Flock AI), and "Condor Bullet" cameras, intended for fixed installation.<ref name="how-to-spot">https://deflocksign.com/blogs/resources/how-to-spot-a-flock-camera</ref> These offer a "guardian" feature which is designed to lock onto people, recording and tracking their movements within each camera's area.<ref>https://www.wdayradionow.com/news/local-news/fargo-police-feature-that-would-allow-some-flock-cameras-to-track-people-is-disabled/</ref>

Flock offers both PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) Condor cameras, designed to be remotely controlled (by a human or the Flock AI), and "Condor Bullet" cameras, intended for fixed installation.<ref name="how-to-spot"/> These offer a "guardian" feature which is designed to lock onto people, recording and tracking their movements within each camera's area.<ref>https://www.wdayradionow.com/news/local-news/fargo-police-feature-that-would-allow-some-flock-cameras-to-track-people-is-disabled/</ref>

Flock representatives have stated multiple times that their services "don't track people" but their own training materials tell a different story.<ref>https://www.gadgetreview.com/flock-safety-says-its-cameras-dont-track-people-its-own-training-videos-disagree</ref><ref>https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-said-cameras-don-t-161447111.html</ref> Additionally, police records which have become public, show hundreds of searches for people based on physical appearance, including: "heavy-set male with a black and white hat," "person on skateboard," and "person wearing orange vest and construction hat,"<ref>https://www.404media.co/how-cops-use-flock-to-track-people-not-cars/</ref>

Flock representatives have stated multiple times that their services "don't track people" but their own training materials tell a different story.<ref>https://www.gadgetreview.com/flock-safety-says-its-cameras-dont-track-people-its-own-training-videos-disagree</ref><ref>https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-said-cameras-don-t-161447111.html</ref> Additionally, police records which have become public, show hundreds of searches for people based on physical appearance, including: "heavy-set male with a black and white hat," "person on skateboard," and "person wearing orange vest and construction hat,"<ref>https://www.404media.co/how-cops-use-flock-to-track-people-not-cars/</ref>

===Sound analysis===

===Sound analysis===

[[File:Flock Safety Raven listening device.jpg|thumb|A Flock Raven listening device]]

[[File:Flock Safety Raven listening device.jpg|thumb|A Flock Raven listening device]]

Flock offers AI-powered internet-connected listening ("Raven") devices, for public spaces. These attempt to identify the sound of gunshots, car crashes, and human voice suggesting distress,<ref name="eff microphones">https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flocks-gunshot-detection-microphones-will-start-listening-human-voices</ref><ref name="sos listening">https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-listening-city/</ref> "instantly linking them with LPR and video."<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/gunshot-detection</ref> Any suspected illegal behavior or distress is reported automatically to the customer (and data sharing partners), along with other surveillance data from the area.  

Flock offers AI-powered internet-connected listening ("Raven") devices, for public spaces. These attempt to identify the sound of gunshots, car crashes, and human voice suggesting distress,<ref name="eff microphones"/><ref name="sos listening"/> "instantly linking them with LPR and video."<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/products/gunshot-detection</ref> Any suspected illegal behavior or distress is reported automatically to the customer (and data sharing partners), along with other surveillance data from the area.  

Flock Raven is also triggered by other loud noises, such as revving motorcycles.<ref>https://xcancel.com/MagneticNorse/status/2067396896750993447</ref>

Flock Raven is also triggered by other loud noises, such as revving motorcycles.<ref>https://xcancel.com/MagneticNorse/status/2067396896750993447</ref>

Although the AI-powered mass surveillance which Flock offers can be useful, it comes with some significant legal and ethical problems. The [[Fourth Amendment|Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution]] provides strong protections against "unreasonable searches and seizures," without a legal warrant, which clearly defines who is being subjected to a search, what place will be searched, and the duration of the search. It also needs to be signed by a judge. Based on legal precedent, tracking the movements of a person over time, is a form of a search, which therefore requires a specific and limited search warrant.<ref>https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/585/16-402/</ref><ref>https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/565/400/</ref>

Although the AI-powered mass surveillance which Flock offers can be useful, it comes with some significant legal and ethical problems. The [[Fourth Amendment|Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution]] provides strong protections against "unreasonable searches and seizures," without a legal warrant, which clearly defines who is being subjected to a search, what place will be searched, and the duration of the search. It also needs to be signed by a judge. Based on legal precedent, tracking the movements of a person over time, is a form of a search, which therefore requires a specific and limited search warrant.<ref>https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/585/16-402/</ref><ref>https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/565/400/</ref>

Unfortunately, these systems are also prone to abuse. There have been many cases of those with access to Flock's tracing data, using it to stalk former romantic partners,<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/02/flock-police-surveillance-tech-birds-iran-press-freedom</ref>, groups of children,<ref>https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-safety-employees-watched-kids-151737512.html</ref> and others.<ref>https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk-romantic-interests-at-least-14-times-in-recent-years/</ref><ref>https://lookout.co/georgia-police-chief-arrested-for-using-flock-cameras-for-stalking-and-harassment-searched-capitola-data-earlier-this-year/story</ref><ref>https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/police-ai-surveillance-stalking</ref>

Unfortunately, these systems are also prone to abuse. There have been many cases of those with access to Flock's tracing data, using it to stalk former romantic partners,<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/02/flock-police-surveillance-tech-birds-iran-press-freedom</ref> groups of children,<ref>https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-safety-employees-watched-kids-151737512.html</ref> and others.<ref>https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk-romantic-interests-at-least-14-times-in-recent-years/</ref><ref>https://lookout.co/georgia-police-chief-arrested-for-using-flock-cameras-for-stalking-and-harassment-searched-capitola-data-earlier-this-year/story</ref><ref>https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/police-ai-surveillance-stalking</ref>

One defense of Flock's usage, is that each customer can purportedly only access the data their own leased Flock equipment collects. However, each customer has the option to share their data with other customers, which quickly spreads the access to each customer's data, across the country. As of 2026, we also now have federal agencies such as the FBI, attempting to access nationwide tracing data from Flock and/or competitors.<ref>https://govtribe.com/file/government-file/attachment-1-lpr-idiq-statement-of-work-dot-pdf</ref><ref>https://san.com/cc/ice-illegally-gains-informal-access-to-nationwide-license-plate-camera-network/</ref> The federal government has been gaining access to Flock data through their HIDTA program, exporting Flock-gathered data into their own databases which then get stored and shared at will. Since the DEA doe not reply to FOIA requests, the extent of their sharing is unknown.<ref>https://www.404media.co/how-cities-are-forced-to-funnel-license-plate-data-to-a-massive-federal-surveillance-program-hidta/</ref>

One defense of Flock's usage, is that each customer can purportedly only access the data their own leased Flock equipment collects. However, each customer has the option to share their data with other customers, which quickly spreads the access to each customer's data, across the country. As of 2026, we also now have federal agencies such as the FBI, attempting to access nationwide tracing data from Flock and/or competitors.<ref>https://govtribe.com/file/government-file/attachment-1-lpr-idiq-statement-of-work-dot-pdf</ref><ref>https://san.com/cc/ice-illegally-gains-informal-access-to-nationwide-license-plate-camera-network/</ref> The federal government has been gaining access to Flock data through their HIDTA program, exporting Flock-gathered data into their own databases which then get stored and shared at will. Since the DEA doe not reply to FOIA requests, the extent of their sharing is unknown.<ref>https://www.404media.co/how-cities-are-forced-to-funnel-license-plate-data-to-a-massive-federal-surveillance-program-hidta/</ref>

==Data retention==

==Data retention==

By default, Flock customers have been able to access their data up to 30 days in the past.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/legal/flock-evidence-policy</ref> Under public pressure, the company began reducing the default period to 7 days, in 2026.<ref>https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/state/georgia/atlanta/2026/08/14/flock-safety-changes-data-retention-default-to-7-days-amid-backlash/91300697007/</ref> However, at the same time, Flock unintentionally made news, when they revealed that they had, in fact, five years of tracking data.<ref name="sw yt">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA03drXAMGE</ref><ref name="sw wis watch">https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/08/wisconsin-sheboygan-flock-safety-cameras-covered-up-police-license-plate-reader/</ref><ref name="sw fox>https://www.fox6now.com/news/sheboygan-canceling-flock-contract-over-undisclosed-data-tracking</ref>

By default, Flock customers have been able to access their data up to 30 days in the past.<ref>https://www.flocksafety.com/legal/flock-evidence-policy</ref> Under public pressure, the company began reducing the default period to 7 days, in 2026.<ref>https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/state/georgia/atlanta/2026/08/14/flock-safety-changes-data-retention-default-to-7-days-amid-backlash/91300697007/</ref> However, at the same time, Flock unintentionally made news, when they revealed that they had, in fact, five years of tracking data.<ref name="sw yt">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA03drXAMGE</ref><ref name="sw wis watch">https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/08/wisconsin-sheboygan-flock-safety-cameras-covered-up-police-license-plate-reader/</ref><ref name="sw fox">https://www.fox6now.com/news/sheboygan-canceling-flock-contract-over-undisclosed-data-tracking</ref>

The city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, was a customer of Flock, with 15 vehicle scanners deployed in their city. Although they were under the same restrictions as everyone else as to how far back in time they could search, Flock approached the city with a proposal. According to Mayor Eric Sorensen, a Flock sales representative contacted  Sheboygan's Engineering department, offering to sell them five years of data about traffic speed and movement, which had been captured by those 15 Flock devices. The city decided to cancel their contract with Flock over the loss of trust, since they had been told that the data was only being retained for 30 days. However, Police Chief Patrick Patton and his department, decided to simply swap to a different vendor proving the same service, [[Axon]].<ref name="sw yt">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA03drXAMGE</ref><ref name="sw wis watch">https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/08/wisconsin-sheboygan-flock-safety-cameras-covered-up-police-license-plate-reader/</ref><ref name="sw fox>https://www.fox6now.com/news/sheboygan-canceling-flock-contract-over-undisclosed-data-tracking</ref>

The city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, was a customer of Flock, with 15 vehicle scanners deployed in their city. Although they were under the same restrictions as everyone else as to how far back in time they could search, Flock approached the city with a proposal. According to Mayor Eric Sorensen, a Flock sales representative contacted  Sheboygan's Engineering department, offering to sell them five years of data about traffic speed and movement, which had been captured by those 15 Flock devices. The city decided to cancel their contract with Flock over the loss of trust, since they had been told that the data was only being retained for 30 days. However, Police Chief Patrick Patton and his department, decided to simply swap to a different vendor proving the same service, [[Axon]].<ref name="sw yt"/><ref name="sw wis watch"/><ref name="sw fox"/>

==History==

==History==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[https://deflock.org/ Crowd-sourced data about Flock deployments]

*[https://deflock.org/ Crowd-sourced data about Flock deployments]

*[https://haveibeenflocked.com/ Lookup license plates against a publicly released "hot list"]

*[https://haveibeenflocked.com/ Lookup license plates against a publicly released "hot list"]