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Flock announces changes amid backlash over its license plate reader network

AP News · · International · Surveillance & Civil Liberties

Flock Safety, the company behind a widely deployed network of automated license plate readers, announced policy or operational changes following public criticism of its surveillance infrastructure.

Why this matters: Flock's network is not a government program. It is a private company selling cameras to neighborhoods, HOAs, and police departments, stitching together a map of where cars go. Backlash matters here because public pressure is one of the few levers people have over private surveillance networks. Changes announced under pressure can be real or cosmetic. The thing to watch is whether Flock is limiting what data it collects, how long it keeps it, and who it shares it with — not just how it explains itself.

Who should care: Privacy officers · Cybersecurity

This summary is AI-assisted and may contain errors. It is an original briefing to help you gauge significance quickly — not a reproduction of the source. Always read the linked original before relying on it. See our methodology.

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