Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has launched a formal investigation into Flock Safety, the company operating over 120,000 automated license plate reader cameras across 49 states. The inquiry focuses on the firm’s data collection and retention practices affecting millions of Americans. The move comes as public concern about the surveillance technology intensifies, with some individuals vandalizing the devices in protest.
Hawley’s investigation centers on several troubling issues, including the system’s monthly processing of more than 20 billion vehicle scans while most subjects have committed no crime. The senator documented cases where Flock’s database has been misused by officers for personal stalking and where the system’s accuracy problems have resulted in wrongful arrests. One California police department discovered 71 percent of its Flock alerts were erroneous, while a Florida woman spent 13 days in jail on felony charges stemming from a Flock database error.
The senator is demanding comprehensive documentation regarding data access permissions, storage duration, security protocols, and whether the company sells driver information to external parties. Hawley questions whether searches require authentication safeguards and requests details on Flock’s data capture methods and biometric tracking capabilities.
Hawley highlighted concerns about Flock’s commercial incentives, noting the company’s $8.3 billion valuation creates pressure to expand data applications beyond law enforcement. The senator has requested Flock provide complete responses to his inquiries by September 8.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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