Flock rolls out new safety guardrails for its camera use
The short version: CBS Detroit reports Flock is adding new usage 'guardrails,' but self-policing by the company that profits from ALPR sprawl deserves scrutiny, not applause.
Our Take
CBS Detroit's report on Flock Safety's new "guardrails" is worth watching, but let's be clear about what's happening here: the company being investigated for how its cameras get used is now writing its own rulebook. That's not oversight — that's a PR move dressed up as accountability. Real guardrails come from city councils, state legislatures, and courts, not from a vendor's internal policy update.
Flock has spent years selling police departments on the idea that more cameras equal more safety, while quietly building one of the largest privately-run vehicle surveillance databases in the country. Any "safety guardrail" announcement should be read against that backdrop: a company facing mounting scrutiny over misuse, data sharing, and mission creep has every incentive to look responsible right before lawmakers start asking harder questions.
Credit to CBS Detroit for pushing this story into the local news cycle — that kind of coverage is exactly what keeps pressure on. But readers shouldn't mistake a corporate policy tweak for real reform. Check our camera map to see how far this network already reaches near you, and head to take-action if you want guardrails that actually have teeth.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of CBS Detroit, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.