Surveillance tech firm Flock has introduced new policies and tools aimed at curbing police abuse of its automated license plate camera systems. Among the changes is Evidence Mode, which enables longer data retention periods, and the controversial Audit Assistance, designed to flag unusual activity for review.

However, Flock has not disclosed how Audit Assistance actually works or provided evidence of its effectiveness. Critics argue that without transparency, such tools may be mere window dressing. Privacy advocates warn that even if effective, police will find ways around it, highlighting the need for legislative constraints on technology use.

The new measures come after numerous reports of Flock’s customers misusing the system. But with Audit Assistance, Flock demands all customers enable it by year-end. The tool is described as detecting odd search histories and unusual patterns but fails to explain its underlying algorithm or data training methods.

While law enforcement officials praise these measures, experts remain skeptical. They point out the lack of independent evaluation, high false positive rates, and potential for abuse within departments. Nevertheless, Flock’s mandatory requirement could be a step towards greater accountability in tech-heavy policing practices.