Flock, known for its network of over 120,000 automatic license plate readers across the US, announced new measures to prevent officers from using the system for illegal purposes. However, these changes come with significant loopholes, enabling officers to bypass security checks and use the technology for stalking.

The updates include software that flags abnormal searches and require searchers to enter a criminal case number. Yet, these policies fail to address broader civil liberties concerns, turning what was meant as a crime-stopping tool into a mass surveillance network.

Cities are reconsidering their contracts with Flock amid growing backlash. Some states have already tried to pass laws limiting or banning license plate readers entirely. The debate centres on the trade-off between security and privacy, with critics arguing that tech should not come at the cost of civil liberties.

Facing pressure from both sides, Flock has proposed narrower surveillance options. However, such changes could limit the company’s business model, which relies heavily on a national network for collecting and sharing data. The future may lie in local communities dictating their own rules, but until then, the tension between crime-solving technology and privacy remains.