News-August-13-2026
August 13, 2026 — Flock Safety announced new safeguards for its automated license-plate-reader network after reported police misuse, including shorter default data retention, case-number requirements for longer retention, and automated auditing for abnormal searches.[1][2]
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Flock adds privacy and police-accountability controls
Flock Safety said it would reduce the default retention period for vehicle-movement data from 30 days to seven days.[1][2] Officers seeking longer retention will be prompted to provide a criminal case number.[1][2]
The company also said it would fully deploy Audit Assistance, a system intended to lock out users whose searches show abnormal activity.[1][2] Flock described the measures as responses to privacy concerns and officer abuse, while the American Civil Liberties Union said the changes did not resolve its broader concern about mass collection of license-plate data involving people not suspected of wrongdoing.[1]