# What Flock’s Defenders Are Missing The gaps and ethical issues in police-tech giant Flock's system. - **Source:** [MIT Technology Review](https://www.technologyreview.com) - **Published:** 2026-08-17 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/24c32526-7438-41e9-8322-30ee562461ba ## Flock’s License Plate Readers and Updates Flock, a police-tech company known for its network of 120,000 automatic license plate readers across the US, announced changes last Thursday aimed at preventing officers from using the system for illegal or illegitimate purposes. These updates focus on preventing misuse, particularly for harassment. However, these changes come with significant loopholes. ## Misuse of the System by Officers According to a Washington Post investigation, systems from Flock and its competitors were misused in 50 cases, often for stalking women. One woman in Wisconsin alleged her ex-boyfriend, a police officer, searched for her car 179 times. Another woman was stalked by a police chief with no one to report it to. ## Flock’s New Security Measures Flock introduced new measures requiring officers to provide a valid reason for each search. Software flags abnormal searches and requires officers to enter a criminal case number. However, officers can bypass these measures by entering bogus case numbers. ## Privacy vs. Security Balance Flock’s systems, marketed as crime-fighting tools, face criticism for turning into mass surveillance networks. Civil liberties and privacy groups argue these systems violate citizens' rights. These criticisms have led some cities to cancel contracts with Flock and some states to attempt banning license plate readers. ## Limitations of Flock’s System Flock’s systems are shaped by decisions on what information to collect, who can search it, how long to keep it, and how widely to share it. These decisions set the balance between security and civil liberties. However, Flock’s new measures do not fully address this balance. ## Alternative System Proposals Flock’s systems could be designed more narrowly. For example, requiring officers to enter a real case number could be a stronger safeguard. Additionally, broader data access could be allowed in emergencies like finding missing persons. This could preserve the system’s value in emergencies without requiring mass surveillance. ## Data Collection and Retention Periods Flock can retain data for months or years, and police in one city can access data from another. However, Flock’s own data shows 90% of searches occur within a week of an incident. This suggests data should only be kept and shared as long as it is useful for solving crimes. ## Community Role and Future The debate over Flock’s systems highlights the need for communities to decide how technology should be used in crime-fighting and how much surveillance is acceptable. Some cities have canceled contracts with Flock, while others are writing new rules. This process could redefine the balance between security and privacy. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/08/17/1142200/what-flocks-defenders-are-missing/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._