footnote4a

Mass surveillance, government contracts, and other bedtime reading.

Never For General Patrol: Flock's Drone PropositionPhoto: Aerodome
Investigations

Never For General Patrol: Flock's Drone Proposition

Flock's November 2024 drone demo showed exactly what its 2026 product page denies. The Supreme Court already ruled on this in 2001.

By H.C. van Pelt2026-05-116 min read
Quick Takes

Thornton PD Investigated Itself and Found no Wrongdoing

Focusing only on the overall search count, not the substantive issues, Thornton PD cleared itself of wrongdoing.

By H.C. van Pelt2026-05-04
Investigations

We Have to Treat Everyone

In this webinar, a Flock sales lead tells hospital customers to add fired and laid-off healthcare workers to the watchlist.

By H.C. van Pelt2026-05-02
Policy & Legal

Under Construction: California Class Action Lawsuits

While the existing Flock suits move toward consolidation, a new one drops; this time against The Home Depot and its "gravely dangerous" use of ALPRs.

By H.C. van Pelt2026-05-02

Recent reporting

Investigations

Welcome to Dunwoody's Virtual Human Zoo

Flock claimed explicit permission to view cameras where children play. Dunwoody says no such permission exists.

By Jason Hunyar2026-05-01
FOIA & Transparency

Front-Loading the Determination: A Response to EFF on ALPR Transparency

EFF proposes case-by-case balancing instead of exemptions. Front-loaded rulemaking and watchlist-based determinations would actually work.

By H.C. van Pelt2026-05-01
Quick Takes

Pattern of Life: Why a City Canceled Flock

Oshkosh, WI, approved a contract with Flock, then canceled it the next day because Flock had lied about a "Pattern of Life" heatmap. We let Flock explain what that is.

By H.C. van Pelt2026-04-24
FOIA & Transparency

These Are Just False

On a Flock webinar, the company's policy lead denies a federal backdoor, then describes it ninety seconds later — while dismissing "claims in the media" as false.

By H.C. van Pelt2026-04-23

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