Key facts
- A website named 'Have I Been Flocked?' allows users to search for license plate data related to Flock Safety's surveillance technology.
- The site aggregates audit logs from Flock Safety customers, including police agencies and private companies.
- The database contains over 242 million recorded searches dating back to November 2021.
- Flock Safety's technology is used in over 6,000 communities across 49 U.S. states.
- The website's creator, Cris van Pelt, aims to highlight the prevalence and unrestricted use of these systems.
- Recent changes by Flock Safety to address privacy concerns have been met with skepticism by critics.
A website called 'Have I Been Flocked?' has gained significant traction, allowing the public to check if their license plates have been searched using Flock Safety's automated license-plate reader technology. Created by Cris van Pelt, a former software engineer now attending law school, the site has seen hundreds of thousands of daily visitors as national debate intensifies over police surveillance.
Flock Safety's technology is deployed in over 6,000 communities across 49 states and is credited with aiding in crime-solving. However, it has also drawn criticism for potential misuse and inaccuracies. 'Have I Been Flocked?' aggregates audit logs from Flock customers, revealing the prevalence and scope of license plate searches. The database currently holds over 242 million recorded searches dating back to November 2021.
Van Pelt stated his goal is to expose the widespread use of these systems. The site operates with the help of volunteers from the DeFlock Discord community and relies on donations to cover server costs. Despite Flock Safety announcing changes to its data retention policies and search flagging tools in mid-August, critics like the ACLU have dismissed these as insufficient responses to privacy concerns.
Flock Safety, valued at $8.4 billion, faces scrutiny over allegations of law enforcement misuse of its technology. Reports have highlighted instances where officers allegedly used the system to track drivers improperly. Investigative reporter Doug MacMillan has utilized data from 'Have I Been Flocked?' in his reporting, underscoring the website's role in the growing movement to monitor surveillance technology.