UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNOLOGY

What is Flock Safety?

Flock Safety is an Atlanta-based company that manufactures and operates one of the largest automated license plate reader (ALPR) networks in the United States.

The Company

Founded in 2017, Flock Safety has rapidly expanded to operate in over 5,000 communities across 49 U.S. states. The company markets its surveillance technology as a way to "eliminate crime" through automated license plate readers and connected camera systems.

Unlike traditional traffic cameras that enforce speed limits or red lights, Flock's cameras are designed exclusively for surveillance and criminal investigations. They photograph and log every single vehicle that passes—not just those suspected of wrongdoing.

As of 2025, Flock claims to perform over 20 billion vehicle scans per month nationwide, creating one of the most extensive surveillance networks ever deployed on American roads.

How ALPR Technology Works

Automated License Plate Readers use high-speed cameras and artificial intelligence to capture and process vehicle information in real-time.

1
Capture
Cameras photograph every passing vehicle at speeds up to 100 mph, day or night, in any weather.
2
Identify
AI reads the license plate and creates a "vehicle fingerprint" including make, model, color, and distinguishing features.
3
Store
All data is uploaded to Flock's cloud database with timestamps and GPS coordinates.
4
Search
Police can search the database by plate number, vehicle description, location, or time—without a warrant.

Technical Capabilities

  • Capture SpeedUp to 100 mph
  • Distance RangeUp to 75 feet
  • Operating ConditionsDay/night, all weather
  • Power SourceSolar panels with battery backup
  • Data RetentionVaries by agency (often 30+ days)
  • Network SharingNationwide access for subscribers

[ Flock camera illustration ]

Beyond License Plates: Vehicle Fingerprinting

Flock's technology goes far beyond simple plate reading. Their "Vehicle Fingerprint" system uses AI to identify and catalog distinguishing characteristics of every vehicle:

Make & Model
AI identifies the manufacturer and specific model of each vehicle passing the camera.
Color Detection
Records vehicle color, including mismatched body panels that might indicate repairs.
Unique Features
Bumper stickers, dents, roof racks, and other distinguishing marks are cataloged.
Temporary Plates
System can identify and flag vehicles with temporary or paper plates.
Time & Location
Every sighting includes precise GPS coordinates and timestamps.
Pattern Analysis
Software tracks travel patterns and can alert on "unusual" movements.

The National Network

What makes Flock particularly powerful—and concerning—is the interconnected nature of their system. When a police department subscribes to Flock, they don't just get access to their own cameras. They can potentially search data from thousands of other Flock cameras across the country.

A 2025 EFF investigation revealed that a single federal search could access over 83,000 cameras spanning nearly the entire nation. This means your movements in Huntsville could be tracked by law enforcement in Texas, California, or anywhere else with Flock access.

Flock has also partnered with Amazon's Ring security products, allowing residents to voluntarily share their doorbell camera footage with police—further expanding the surveillance network into private neighborhoods.

Learn About the Dangers

Now that you understand how the technology works, see why it poses a threat to your civil liberties.

The Problem Take Action