What the Flock?
Mass surveillance near us
Have you seen these popping up around your neighborhood?
The above picture is of a Flock Camera and the solar array, which provides power. The Flock Camera is an Automatic License Plate Recorder that connects to an ever-growing network of other Flock cameras, gathering data about the traffic passing by their location. One Flock license plate reader camera can capture two lanes of traffic and is able to record 30,000 vehicles per day while running on solar and wireless infrastructure. The data collected includes:
License plate image
Vehicle image
Vehicle characteristics
License plate number
License Plate State
Date
Time
Location
The inventor, Garrett Langley of Atlanta, wanted a more advanced surveillance option to combat property crime in his neighborhood. He has been incredibly successful in marketing and selling his Flock Cameras and the Flock Operating System. According to their website, more than 5,000 communities use Flock Cameras. Thousands of communities passively upload vehicle data to a database searchable by Flock customers in local, state, and federal law enforcement. I assume neighborhood associations can also utilize the database - why else would they install these cameras?
Flock Safety cameras take high-speed photos of the backs of vehicles as they pass the cameras. An internal algorithm sorts and identifies the clearest image of each vehicle, profiling vehicles by color, type, roof rack, and even bumper stickers, then uploads it to a searchable database. The cameras run 24/7 using infrared technology to capture night photos, track how often a vehicle passes any camera, and using Artificial Intelligence, can even predict routes.
Unless a regulatory agency has requested otherwise, all data is deleted after 30 days. According to Flock, an “audit log is available indefinitely for command staff or city council members or anyone that’s charged with auditing to actually go through and understand what people are using this system for.” I’m not sure who the auditing agency in Billerica is, but when we find out, they should be asked to perform an audit.
Here in Billerica, Massachusetts, six cameras have been installed at “pinch points” around town. These cameras have been in place for 9 months, since June 1, 2024.
Approximate locations based on available information:
The Billerica Select Board was only told of their use after installation was complete. A discussion was held at the June 17, 2024 Select Board meeting. You can watch it on BATV, starting at 1hr and 54 minutes.
During the twenty-minute conversation, Chief of Police Roy Frost assured the Select Board that protections are in place to prevent illegal use. The Billerica Police Department was able to obtain a grant funded through the Department of Justice for $18,000. The grant covered the initial cost of the cameras, but the fees for accessing the Flock Operating System will be part of the police department’s budget.
One such feature mentioned during the SB meeting but not mentioned elsewhere is that if police are looking for a specific vehicle, they can put an alert out. Whenever that vehicle passes a Flock camera, the police department will be notified. The individual cameras are not powerful, but the multitude of cameras provides extensive coverage nationwide. Chief Frost assured the Select Board that Billerica owns the data and will not share it without a good reason. However, under the Biden Administration, federal immigration authorities bought and used ALPR data from local police to track immigrants across the country. Are we to believe that the Trump Administration will not use the same tools, or abuse those tools for their own purposes? Especially in light of the injustices happening all over the country today?
A Select Board Member publicly stated that she doesn't think these cameras invade anyone’s privacy, but provided no rationale for the ludicrous statement. The Chief did not paint a complete picture, and none of their questions offered additional details. Select Board Member Mike Rosa had no concerns but was happy that the Town did not have to spend money to obtain these passive eyes in the sky. Chief Frost reiterated that law enforcement personnel have to have specific reasons for utilizing the system. We all know that LEOs would never use a system for personal reasons…
Kansas police chief used Flock license plate cameras 164 times to track ex-girlfriend
Kechi police lieutenant arrested for using police technology to stalk wife
Police sometimes misuse confidential work databases for personal gain: AP
Minnesota audit finds half of cops did questionable searches
There are more infractions than we’ll ever know. Many abuses of these systems are handled internally, and no single agency monitors abuses. The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts has been requesting public records from our Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services to obtain information about the use of Flock Cameras. Unfortunately, their requests have been ignored, and the lawsuit demanding the information is moving slowly through the system.
Even if everyone behaves virtuously, abuses and mistakes still happen.
NC police errors with license plate cameras brought wrongful arrests
Cops Terrorize Black Family but Blame License Plate Reader for Misidentifying ‘Stolen’ Vehicle
San Francisco Woman Pulled Out of Car at Gunpoint Because of License Plate Reader Error
More than 125 law enforcement agencies reported a data breach or cyberattacks between 2012 and 2020
Images of Drivers Hacked From a U.S. Border Protection Contractor
Surveillance systems and electronic devices undermine all efforts to retain privacy. The advancement of Artificial Intelligence and AI-powered algorithms creates additional dangers from which there is no protection. Some in the Massachusetts State House have noticed and are filing bills to provide some protections under State Law, but there is not enough public outcry to generate momentum. As with most bills filed, it went to committee to die.
We need to worry about more than just our police departments. In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) began using license-plate readers to build a database for federal and local agencies tracking millions of cars around the country.
If the cameras weren’t enough to terrify you. No worries!! Flock is expanding their offerings with drones! According to their website:
Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology enables law enforcement agencies to improve response times and officer safety by immediately deploying drones to critical incidents, providing faster intelligence and situational awareness. With Flock's existing suite of rapid-response solutions — including license plate recognition (LPR) cameras, gunshot detection sensors, and FlockOS® Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) software — the addition of DFR enables agencies to identify and respond to threats faster than ever before…
without the need for a human observer.
Thanks to funding under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Flock will be able to launch their drones this year.
Overall, the possible benefit of ALPRs deployed in our communities do not outweigh the tremendous safety and privacy concerns. Flock Systems claims to help solve 10% of nationwide crime - a study funded by the agency and conducted by their employees - but independent researchers have been unable to confirm those statistics and believe that less than 0.3% of ALPR hits might translate into a useful investigative lead.
Toolkits like the Surveillance Self-Defense from the Electronic Frontier Foundation can help you stay safe online, at protests, or detect unwanted trackers but there are no protections from any of the Flock systems or those like it. We can map them but even that freedom is being challenged by powerful forces.
