Website checks Flock license plate searches
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The gist
Have I Been Flocked? website lets drivers check license plate searches in Flock camera system.
The tool reveals 4.7 million plates and 241 million searches, raising privacy concerns.
Background
Flock Safety operates a network of automated license plate reader cameras across the U.S., used by law enforcement. The website 'Have I Been Flocked?' compiles public records from Flock transparency portals and FOIA requests, allowing individuals to see if their license plate was searched by an operator. It does not show every camera pass, only searches. The tool has gained attention amid growing scrutiny over mass surveillance and data privacy.
How it unfolded
- 2025The website 'Have I Been Flocked?' was created as Flock readers grew in popularity.
- Aug 11, 2026Georgia drivers can check if Flock cameras tracked their car via the website.
- Aug 14, 2026Floridians can see if their license plate was searched using the website.
- Aug 15, 2026Connecticut and Hawaii news outlets report on the website, noting its limitations.
- Aug 16, 2026Fox17 reports on the website, highlighting privacy advocates' concerns.
- Aug 17, 2026Cleveland.com and NewsNation cover the website, noting it compiles nearly 4.7 million plates and 241 million searches.
Who’s saying what
- Privacy Advocates
- Concerns about constitutional rights, unlawful searches, and tracking of undocumented immigrants.
- ACLU
- Calls Flock a civil liberties threat and says local police have conducted searches on ICE's behalf.
- Flock Safety
- States it has roughly 120,000 cameras across 49 states and emphasizes the tool's benefits for law enforcement.
- Critics
- Dozens of communities have ended relationships with Flock over mass surveillance and data privacy concerns.
Still unverified
The website's database is incomplete; many agencies do not release audit logs, and records can be heavily redacted. Delays of months or years may occur before records are added.