---
title: "Flock Limits License Plate Reader Access Amid Privacy Concerns"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/flock-limits-license-plate-reader-access-privacy-ch9ij
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Society
published: 2026-08-13T18:45:37.240Z
modified: 2026-08-13T21:00:06.588Z
language: en-IN
---

# Flock Limits License Plate Reader Access Amid Privacy Concerns

Surveillance firm Flock announced new policies to restrict access to its network of over 120,000 automatic license plate readers. The changes aim to enhance privacy and accountability following reports of misuse.

## Key takeaways

- Flock is limiting access to its network of over 120,000 automatic license plate readers.
- New policies include mandatory "abnormal activity" flagging and reduced data storage to seven days.
- The company is also implementing optional limits on data sharing between police departments.
- Critics argue the changes are insufficient and still rely on self-policing by law enforcement.

Flock, a company specializing in surveillance technology, has announced new measures to limit access to its extensive network of automatic license plate readers. This decision follows reports of police officers allegedly misusing the technology for activities such as stalking, with incidents dating back to at least 2021.

Flock CEO Garrett Langley stated that the policy updates are designed to address key areas for the company: privacy, accountability, and security. Among the implemented changes is the mandatory activation of a feature that flags "abnormal activity" for review. Additionally, the recommended data storage period for Flock surveillance products has been reduced from 30 to seven days. The company is also introducing optional limitations on data sharing between law enforcement agencies.

These policy adjustments were announced amidst significant public opposition, which has prompted more than 20 local governments to reconsider their use of Flock's technology. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has critiqued the new policies, describing them as largely similar to previous safety measures that were deemed insufficient. The ACLU noted that Flock's system assumes it can prevent improper search queries, a claim the organization disputes.

Tom Bowman, policy counsel for security and surveillance at the Center for Democracy & Technology, expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the new rules. He stated that the policies still place the responsibility of policing data access on thousands of police departments, a system he believes is unsafe given evidence of its shortcomings across the United States.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/flock-limits-license-plate-reader-access-privacy-ch9ij
Reported from: Multiple Sources