POLICE CAUGHT STALKING EXES

Our Take

Elrod TV Network's investigation into officers allegedly using ALPR systems to stalk former partners isn't an isolated glitch — it's the predictable outcome of handing law enforcement a nationwide, always-on tracking network with minimal oversight. Flock Safety and similar vendors love to pitch these cameras as neutral tools for solving crime, but the moment that data exists, it can be queried by anyone with login access and a personal grudge. 'Audit logs' and 'policy' mean nothing if no one is actually checking them.

This is exactly the pattern we've flagged before: ALPR networks quietly expand into school zones, church parking lots, and residential streets, then get justified as crime-fighting infrastructure — right up until someone uses them to track a partner, journalist, or political rival. Misuse isn't a bug in this system, it's a feature of building mass surveillance first and asking questions about accountability later.

Credit to Elrod TV Network for surfacing another real-world example of why these systems demand scrutiny, not blind trust. If you want to see how dense this surveillance net is near you, check our camera map, and if you're ready to push back on unchecked ALPR deployment in your town, our take-action page has concrete steps.