Flock Safety loses credibility after lying to city councils and police

Flock Safety, a vendor of automated license‑plate readers (ALPRs) for municipalities, has been shown to provide false statements to city councils, police departments, and the public, according to an ACLU investigation [ACLU Report]. The report documents that the company repeatedly told officials its cameras “only capture license plates,” while internal evidence proves the devices also record images of people and vehicles, expanding the scope of data collection far beyond the advertised limits.

What the report uncovered

The ACLU analysis cites multiple instances where Flock Safety’s representatives assured city officials that the technology was limited to plate detection, yet deployment logs reveal simultaneous capture of facial images and vehicle snapshots. In at least two municipalities, the company’s marketing materials claimed a “privacy‑first” design, but the report shows no mechanisms to prevent or delete the broader visual data it collects. The investigation also notes that Flock Safety failed to disclose these capabilities in public hearings, misleading elected bodies that approved funding for the systems.

Why it matters

Misrepresenting the technical reach of surveillance tools undermines public trust and hampers informed policy decisions. When a vendor conceals the full extent of data gathered, municipalities cannot accurately assess privacy risks or implement appropriate safeguards. The ACLU’s findings highlight the need for stricter disclosure requirements and independent audits of ALPR deployments to ensure that law‑enforcement partners and citizens understand exactly what is being recorded and stored. Without such transparency, the balance between public safety and privacy remains skewed in favor of unchecked data collection.

The report calls on city leaders to demand full technical disclosures from vendors and to consider legislative measures that enforce accountability for any future misrepresentations.