LIVE | Flock Safety alters camera data policies & Dr. Oz visits Atlanta to promote healthcare tools
The short version: Fox 5 Atlanta reports Flock Safety is trimming ALPR data retention amid growing public pushback, but shorter storage windows don't fix the surveillance problem.
Our Take
Fox 5 Atlanta's segment on Flock Safety's policy tweaks is worth watching, but let's not mistake a shorter retention window for real reform. Flock is Atlanta-based, and it's no surprise the hometown press is covering the company's moves as public scrutiny mounts nationwide. Trimming how long plate scans sit in a database sounds responsible on paper, but it does nothing to change the core issue: a private company running a de facto license plate tracking network for thousands of police departments, with minimal oversight and no meaningful consent from the people being scanned.
Data retention limits are a PR move, not a policy fix. The real questions are who gets access to this data, how it's shared across agencies and states, and whether any of it should be collected in the first place without a warrant. Shortening the shelf life of a database doesn't stop mission creep, doesn't stop ICE or out-of-state agencies from querying local networks, and doesn't give residents any real say in whether these cameras go up on their streets to begin with.
If you want to see how far this network already reaches in your area, check out our camera map, and if you're ready to push back against unchecked ALPR deployment in your city, our take-action page has concrete steps you can take right now.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of FOX 5 Atlanta, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.