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 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">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.