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USA Today publishes Flock license plate database
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
USA Today published a searchable database of Flock license plate searches. It lets drivers check if police tracked their plates, amid privacy concerns.
Background
Flock Safety's automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are used in over 6,000 communities across 49 states. USA Today's investigation found multiple instances of police officers misusing the cameras for personal reasons, leading to resignations and arrests. In response, USA Today published a database of audit logs, allowing the public to check if their plates were searched.
How it unfolded
- Aug 24, 2026A former Sarasota officer was arrested after USA Today's investigation found he searched a plate 335 times in two months.
- Aug 25, 2026Business Insider published an interview with the creator of HaveIBeenFlocked, a site that aggregates audit logs.
- Aug 26, 2026Santa Barbara ended its Flock camera contract amid privacy concerns.
- Aug 27, 2026Fort Smith police implemented new limits on Flock data retention and access.
- Aug 28, 2026The Washington Post reported a survey showing Americans now oppose license-plate readers more than support them.
- Aug 29, 2026USA Today published the searchable database of Flock audit logs, and reported that Flock is now hiding key data.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Councilman Mike Jordan defended the cameras, saying they helped solve crimes and could safely return abducted children.
- Caution
- The ACLU warns that Flock's nationwide database is searchable by any contracted agency with few regulations or oversight.
- Public
- A survey shows more Americans now oppose the use of AI-powered license plate cameras than support it.
Still unverified
Flock Safety has not publicly commented on the database or the claim that it is hiding key data.