gg2
Have I been flocked?
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Have I Been Flocked website lets drivers check if license plates were searched. It compiled 242 million Flock searches, raising privacy concerns.
Background
Flock Safety operates over 120,000 AI-powered cameras nationwide that record license plates and share data with law enforcement. Critics raise privacy concerns, and a Washington Post investigation found officers misusing the system. The website compiles public records to let individuals see if their plate was searched.
How it unfolded
- recentlyHave I Been Flocked website launched, compiling public records of Flock searches.
- Aug 15, 2026News outlets report on the website, highlighting its features and the incomplete nature of the data.
- Aug 17, 2026The website had compiled nearly 242 million searches involving more than 4.6 million plates.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Supporters say the website increases transparency and helps individuals know if their data was accessed.
- Caution
- Law enforcement officials argue the cameras are crucial for solving crimes and finding missing people.
- Critics
- Privacy advocates like the ACLU call Flock a civil liberties threat, citing misuse and lack of oversight.
Still unverified
The website's database is incomplete; a lack of results does not guarantee a plate wasn't searched. Some records may be redacted or outdated.