tech
Flock surveillance cameras are spreading across the US
Most people call them automated licence plate readers, or ALPRs. They sit beside roads and log every car that passes. Flock Safety dominates the market. Engadget reports that Flock makes the vast majority of the 100,000-plus readers now blanketing the US.
TL;DR
- Flock Safety dominates the US market for automated license plate readers (ALPRs), with over 100,000 devices deployed.
- Flock cameras are AI-powered, capable of identifying and searching for various attributes beyond license plates, and feed data into a national network.
- Security researchers have found critical vulnerabilities in Flock cameras, including exposed live feeds and the ability to gain root access and install malware.
- Law enforcement officers have reportedly misused Flock systems to track ex-partners and other private individuals.
- The cameras have also been prone to misidentification, leading to wrongful accusations and persistent alerts.
- The installation of Flock devices, like audio-detection poles, has sometimes occurred without prior notification to residents.
- Cities have faced difficulties in removing Flock cameras due to contract concerns, sometimes resorting to covering them.
- There is limited evidence that these cameras effectively reduce crime, yet their deployment continues to grow.