MIT Review on Flock Cameras: The imbalance between crime-fighting and privacy
nordicinst · x · 2026-08-18
MIT Technology Review analyzes the privacy risks posed by police-tech company Flock and its network of 120,000 Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR).
Abuse Cases
- The Washington Post identified 50 cases of officer misuse, often for harassment.
- A woman in Wisconsin alleged her officer ex-boyfriend searched her car 179 times.
Flock's Measures
- Requires entering a criminal case number for searches.
- Uses software to flag abnormal search behavior.
Existing Loopholes
- Officers can enter bogus case numbers to bypass safeguards.
- Policies do not address civil liberties concerns about the "mass surveillance network."
Industry Backlash
- Some cities have canceled contracts; some states are passing laws to limit or ban readers.
- The article contrasts this with European privacy models, suggesting design choices (smarter safeguards) could transform mass surveillance into targeted, accountable use.
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