Flock Stalking

Our Take

Mike Rafi's quick-hit video flags something we've been warning about for a while: once a network of license plate readers exists, it doesn't just watch cars, it tracks people. When a system built to flag stolen vehicles or wanted plates can also be queried by a disgruntled cop, an ex-partner with access, or anyone who abuses their login, 'public safety tool' starts looking a lot like a stalking apparatus with a badge.

This isn't a hypothetical. Flock's own audit logs have repeatedly surfaced cases of law enforcement running plates for personal reasons that have nothing to do with an active investigation, and the company's response is almost always after the fact. A lawyer putting this in front of a general audience matters because it moves the conversation out of privacy-advocate circles and into the mainstream, where most people still think these cameras only matter if you've done something wrong.

Credit to Rafi for using his platform to put a plain-language spotlight on the abuse angle rather than just the marketing pitch. If you want to see how dense this surveillance net is in your own neighborhood, check our camera map, and if you're ready to push back on a local deployment, our take-action page has the tools to get started.