Statements issued Friday by Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch and the Gwinnett County Police Department containing some criticism of the Flock license plate reader system drew a quick response from Flock, according to the AJC.
Here’s part of what Couch said:
“As a profession, law enforcement failed, and as a company, Flock failed from the beginning. If your company name has the word safety in it, your products should include safeguards. From the outset, Flock did not provide audit tools for agencies and only recently introduced them. Too many officers across the country and here at home used the time without oversight to misuse the system.”
But Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel told the AJC on Saturday that since “Day 1, Flock has had detailed audit logs” that show agencies what has been searched in the system and by whom. The company announced on its website in August it would be rolling out several updates, a move that follows the April launch of the more thorough auditing tool.
“Misuse of any law enforcement tool is unacceptable, and we will continue investing in safeguards that help agencies detect misuse and hold users accountable,” Lewbel wrote in an email.
Officials say the data collected by license plate readers help solve and deter crime by, for example, allowing law enforcement to track a criminal’s movements. But critics worry about data retention, mass surveillance and security. Many express such concerns via social media in response to Sheriff Couch’s comments: Reaction to Couch statement on Flocks
In response to numerous misuse reports and criticism, Flock announced it would introduce several updates. Lewbel told the AJC Saturday that Flock will continue to invest in oversight measures. And, in a recent memo posted on the company’s website, Flock said additional safeguards could be added as it grows.