GoKawiilFlock Safety requires case numbers and standardized reasons for license-plate database searches
Flock Safety told Senator Josh Hawley it has replaced an open text field for justifying camera-database searches with a drop-down menu based on FBI crime categories. By year's end, law enforcement will also need to log a case number before searching, though the requirement can be waived in emergencies. The changes come as Hawley investigates the company and after a Senate hearing examined misuse concerns, including a case where a Florida woman spent 13 days jailed based on a camera match.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The changes suggest Flock is responding to mounting political pressure over how its 120,000-camera network, which scans roughly 20 billion plates monthly, could enable tracking of individuals' movements or misuse by officers. Standardizing search justifications and requiring case numbers could make it easier to audit whether searches are tied to legitimate investigations, though critics may still question enforcement and whether emergency waivers create loopholes. The scrutiny reflects broader bipartisan unease about unregulated surveillance technology used by police departments nationwide.
- Flock replaced a free-text justification field with standardized FBI-based categories for database searches.
- Police will need to enter case numbers before searching starting by year's end, with emergency exceptions.
- The move follows a Senate hearing and Hawley's investigation into misuse concerns, including a wrongful 13-day jailing tied to a camera match.
Source: techspot.com — Skye Jacobs, 2026-09-24
Published there as: “Flock is finally requiring police to have a real reason before searching its camera database”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.