# Flock's Plan to Turn Uber Drivers Into Mobile Surveillance Network The company considered using Uber and Lyft drivers' dashcams as a license plate recognition system. - **Source:** [Gizmodo](https://brifing.si/source/63382431-cef0-4c41-883e-2f88dc21351e) - **Published:** 2026-08-07 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c7a70203-09de-46b0-87a0-2fa8855e66de ## Flock's Secret Plan Flock Safety, known for its automatic license plate recognition systems, planned to create a mobile surveillance network using Uber and Lyft drivers' dashcams. According to documents obtained by 404 Media, over 350,000 vehicles could have been integrated into Flock's system. It remains unclear whether drivers would have been informed about their participation in this network. ## Nexar Partnership Flock proposed a partnership with Nexar, a popular dashcam manufacturer, in a presentation prepared for the Georgia Attorney General's Office. The collaboration aimed to leverage Nexar's extensive driver network for license plate data collection. However, the plan was never implemented, and the partnership did not materialize. ## Privacy Concerns Flock's plan raised significant privacy concerns as it involved collecting data without drivers' explicit consent. License plate scans could have occurred without drivers' knowledge, potentially sharing data with law enforcement. This added to growing surveillance concerns in the U.S., where Flock's cameras are already used by police, sparking public backlash. ## Nexar's Data Collection Nexar already collects anonymized data from its dashcams and sells it to third parties. Its CityStream project creates a real-time, user-generated map. However, it's unclear whether drivers are fully aware of their participation, as some jurisdictions automatically enroll them in data sharing, requiring an opt-out process. ## Similar Projects Flock isn't the only company exploring mobile surveillance. BusPatrol, which uses school bus cameras to catch traffic violators, faced criticism for plans to share license plate data with law enforcement. Past misuse of Flock's cameras by police has further eroded public trust in such initiatives. ## Legal and Ethical Issues Flock's plans highlight serious legal and ethical questions about privacy and data protection. Collecting data without consent may conflict with U.S. privacy laws. The potential for misuse by law enforcement, given past abuses, adds to the ethical dilemmas surrounding these technologies. ## Balancing Technology and Society Flock's proposals reignite debates about technology's societal impact. Surveillance measures, even for safety, risk infringing on personal freedoms. Some argue for more cautious adoption of technologies like robotaxis, emphasizing the need to balance innovation with individual rights. ## Implications and Future Flock's plans demonstrate how far tech companies might go in expanding surveillance. The risk of turning private vehicles into surveillance tools could set a precedent for similar projects. This calls for updated legal frameworks and greater corporate accountability in ethical decision-making. ## Sources covering this story - https://gizmodo.com/flock-reportedly-tried-to-turn-uber-drivers-into-mobile-snitches-2000796138 — --- _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._