This was not hard to predict. #Data governance needs to go beyond a data entry for "Reason?" as that is clearly too vague. If #California wants to continue deploying and operating #ALPR technology, we need #datagovernance and accountability NOW.

#flock #deflock #alprspotting #ice #fuckICE #surveillance #policestate

Law enforcement agencies are violating California law and sharing license plate reader data with federal authorities https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/06/california-police-sharing-license-plate-reader-data/

Victory! #Austin Organizers Cancel City's #Flock #ALPR Contract

In the years since, this concern has materialized time and time again, and now the risks have heightened with the potential of using the data against #immigrants and people seeking #trans or #reproductive #healthcare. Most recently #Texas authorities were implicated in a 404 media report on the use of these #cameras to #target #abortion seekers.
#privacy #security #surveillance

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/victory-austin-organizers-cancel-citys-flock-alpr-contract

Victory! #Austin Organizers Cancel City's #Flock #ALPR Contract

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/victory-austin-organizers-cancel-citys-flock-alpr-contract

#privacy #surveillance #politics

@effaustin >"Given concerns expressed today, I have decided to withdraw this item from the agenda at this time to provide more opportunities to address council members’ questions and do our due diligence to alleviate concerns prior to bringing this item back to City Council for consideration," Broadnax said in his message to the Mayor and Council.
>
>...
>
>Broadnax's decision essentially means Austin's ALPR program will end on June 30.

Don't celebrate just yet. They've got the rest of the month for y'all to lose interest and bring the item back later. Expect APD to piss and moan and for the more liberal CMs to hem and haw before voting to extend the contract.

#alpr #atx #AustinTX #austin #flock #FlockSafety

San Diegans Push Back on #Flock #ALPR #Surveillance

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/san-diegans-push-back-flock-alpr-surveillance

#privacy #SanDiego

San Diegans Push Back on #Flock #ALPR #Surveillance

Approaching San Diego’s 1st annual review of the city's controversial Flock Safety contract, a local coalition is calling on the city council to roll back this dangerous & costly automated license plate reader program

The TRUST Coalition—a grassroots alliance including Electronic Frontier Alliance members Tech Workers Coalition #SanDiego & techLEAD—has rallied to stop the unchecked spread of ALPRs in San Diego
#privacy
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/san-diegans-push-back-flock-alpr-surveillance

"A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion

The sheriff said the woman self-administered the abortion and her family were concerned for her safety, so authorities searched through Flock cameras. Experts are still concerned that a cop in a state where abortion is illegal can search cameras in others where it's a human right."

by Joseph Cox and Jason Koebler
May 29, 2025 at 1:35 PM

(Link to 404 Media around tracking wall)

https://archive.is/4SLrl

#ALPR

This week 404 Media reported that a #Texas #police officer used #Flock to perform a nationwide search of more than 83,000 #ALPR #cameras while looking for a woman who had had an #abortion. Abortion is almost entirely #illegal in #Texas but law enforcement reportedly looked at cameras in states such as #Washington and #Illinois, where abortion is #legal. #womenshealth #privacy #civilliberties #surveillance #Cars #transportation #licenseplates https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/31/a-dystopian-surveillance-fear-has-become-reality-in-texas #roe #dobbs #supremecourt

Aaaand the other shoe drops.

#ICE is using #Flock license plate reader databases to do warrantless “immigration” searches NATIONWIDE. If your city uses Flock #ALPR cameras, the city is providing surveillance of its citizens to ICE while Flock MAKES A PROFIT with every search.

Remember folks: any technology that CAN be used for surveillance WILL eventually be used for surveillance, especially when its vendor stands to make a profit from said surveillance.

I’m not an organizer, but I think it’s time for a loud pushback at the city level against the installation and use of automated license plate readers, whether Flock or others.

Data collected is data weaponized.

Flock is acting like a mercenary. Get their cameras out of your cities. #FuckFlock

https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/

She Got an #Abortion. So A #Texas Cop Used 83,000 #Cameras to #Track Her Down.

The officer searched 6,809 different camera networks maintained by #surveillance tech company #Flock Safety, including states where abortion access is protected by law, such as #Washington and #Illinois. The search record listed the reason plainly: “had an abortion, search for female.”
#privacy #rights #alpr #flocksafety #tracking

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/05/she-got-abortion-so-texas-cop-used-83000-cameras-track-her-down

Again, surveillance sign are bad.

“Earlier this month authorities in Texas performed a nationwide search of more than 83,000 automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras while looking for a woman who they said had a self-administered abortion, including cameras in states where abortion is legal such as Washington and Illinois, according to multiple datasets obtained by 404 Media.

The news shows in stark terms how police in one state are able to take the ALPR technology, made by a company called Flock and usually marketed to individual communities to stop carjackings or find missing people, and turn it into a tool for finding people who have had abortions. In this case, the sheriff told 404 Media the family was worried for the woman’s safety and so authorities used Flock in an attempt to locate her. But health surveillance experts said they still had issues with the nationwide search.”

#flock #alpr #tech #surveillance #privacy #data #public #news
https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/

The automatic license plate reading camera technology made by Flock is supposed to prevent carjackings or find missing people. @404mediaco says in one Texas case, it was used to track down a woman who was believed to have had a self-administered abortion. 83,000 cameras were used in the search, including ones in states where abortion is legal. The sheriff’s office in Johnson County says that the woman’s family were concerned for her health and that this was the sole reason they were tracking her. “The idea that the police are actively tracking the location of women they believe have had self-administered abortions under the guise of ‘safety’ does not make me feel any better about this kind of surveillance,” says Eve Galperin, director of cybersecurity at digital rights organization the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

https://flip.it/bZM_xa

#Surveillance #Security #ALPR #Tech #Abortion #WomensRights #Technology #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

A #Texas Cop Searched #LicensePlate #Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an #Abortion Earlier this month authorities in Texas performed a nationwide search of more than 83,000 automatic license plate reader ( #ALPR ) ... #privacy #surveillance #tracking www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-...

A Texas Cop Searched License P...

A #Texas Cop Searched #LicensePlate #Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an #Abortion

Earlier this month authorities in Texas performed a nationwide search of more than 83,000 automatic license plate reader ( #ALPR ) cameras while looking for a woman who they said had a self-administered abortion, including cameras in states where abortion is legal such as #Washington & #Illinois , according to multiple datasets obtained by 404Media.
#privacy #surveillance #tracking

https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/

https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/

Earlier this month, authorities in Texas performed a nationwide search of more than 83,000 automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras while looking for a woman who they said had a self-administered abortion, including cameras in states where abortion is legal such as Washington and Illinois.

#Privacy #ALPR #surveillance

@kctipton I think the craziest part of this is that flock has more than 83,000 cameras.. That is like 1 camera every 6 miles for all of the landmass of the USA. ALPR are a scourge on our freedom of movement in this country.

#privacy #security #USpol #ALPR #flock

Headline: A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion

Me: It may never happen, but I'd like to see a unified, organized protest where everyone in the US removes their license plates. If not permanently, maybe for one day.

https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/

#Privacy
#Abortion
#ALPR
#Surveillance

#ICE Taps into Nationwide #AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows

https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/

#privacy #surveillance #Flock #ALPR

"Data from a license plate-scanning tool that is primarily marketed as a surveillance solution for small towns to combat crimes like car jackings or finding missing people is being used by ICE, according to data reviewed by 404 Media. Local police around the country are performing lookups in Flock’s AI-powered automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system for “immigration” related searches and as part of other ICE investigations, giving federal law enforcement side-door access to a tool that it currently does not have a formal contract for.

The massive trove of lookup data was obtained by researchers who asked to remain anonymous to avoid potential retaliation and shared with 404 Media. It shows more than 4,000 nation and statewide lookups by local and state police done either at the behest of the federal government or as an “informal” favor to federal law enforcement, or with a potential immigration focus, according to statements from police departments and sheriff offices collected by 404 Media."

https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/

#USA #Surveillance #Immigration #PoliceState #ICE #ALPR #LicensePlateReader

Unintended?

ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network

Data from a license plate-scanning tool that is primarily marketed as a surveillance solution for small towns to combat crimes like car jackings or finding missing people is being used by #ICE, according to data reviewed by 404 Media. Local police around the country are performing lookups in #Flock’s AI-powered automatic license plate reader (#ALPR) system for “#immigration” related searches and as part of other ICE investigations, giving federal law enforcement side-door access to a tool that it currently does not have a formal contract for.

https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/