EFF's Investigations Expose Flock Safety's Surveillance Abuses: 2025 in Review
Summary
The EFF's 2025 investigation into Flock Safety's ALPR network revealed mass surveillance abuses including tracking protesters, discriminatory searches targeting Romani people, and surveillance of women seeking reproductive healthcare. The research spurred state and federal investigations and exposed the expansion into always-listening voice detection technology.
IFF Assessment
The reported abuses of the Flock Safety ALPR network are bad news for privacy and civil liberties.
Severity
Defender Context
Defenders should be aware of the potential for ALPR systems to be misused for surveillance and discriminatory targeting. It's important to monitor ALPR usage for unusual patterns and ensure compliance with privacy policies and legal regulations. The trend toward increased surveillance capabilities in both public and private sectors requires constant vigilance.