Flock Search Logs Said “LMAO.” Who Checks the Searches?

Our Take

Credit to Buntai for digging into something most people never think to check: the reason field. Flock Safety and its police customers love to tout audit logs as proof the system polices itself — every search requires a typed justification, so in theory abuse gets caught. But 'LMAO' as a stated reason for pulling someone's location history says everything about how seriously that requirement is actually taken. If a joke can sail through unchallenged, what does that tell us about the searches that look official but aren't?

This is the gap between a policy on paper and a culture of accountability. Audit logs only matter if someone is actually reading them, flagging nonsense entries, and disciplining the people who write them. Most departments running Flock networks don't have the staff, the will, or frankly the incentive to do that kind of review — the data is too useful and the oversight too optional. A flippant log entry isn't just funny; it's a crack in the whole 'trust us, it's audited' sales pitch that gets repeated to city councils before they approve camera contracts.

If your town is debating an ALPR contract, this is exactly the kind of detail to bring to the meeting. Check whether Flock cameras are already running near you on our camera map, and see our take-action page for ways to push your local government toward real audit transparency instead of rubber-stamped logs.