EFF Finds Police Writing Nonsense in Flock Camera Search Records
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has uncovered evidence that police officers across the United States are entering nonsensical and inappropriate text into the "reason for search" field when using Flock Safety's automated license plate reader cameras. The entries, obtained through public records requests, include phrases like "LMAO," "IDK," "hehe," "asdfg," "idiot," "WEIRD KID," "blah," and "leave me alone."
Flock Safety manufactures license plate readers and other cameras deployed by law enforcement agencies nationwide. The company's system requires officers to provide a stated reason when conducting searches through its database—a safeguard ostensibly meant to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of surveillance data.
The EFF findings suggest this accountability mechanism may be largely symbolic. Beyond the humorous entries, the pattern indicates officers may not be taking the documentation requirement seriously, which could complicate efforts to audit how and why the technology is being used.
Privacy advocates have long raised concerns about automated license plate readers and the vast amounts of data they collect on vehicle movements. Flock cameras can capture license plates continuously as vehicles pass, building comprehensive location histories that persist long after any individual investigation concludes.
The discovery adds to ongoing debates about oversight of law enforcement surveillance technology. Without meaningful enforcement of documentation requirements, critics argue, the public has little visibility into how these systems are being deployed and whether their use aligns with stated policies.