Audit Log AnalysisNearly three years of Flock event logs show New Castle, Pennsylvania concentrated all 31 of its surveillance devices in the city's only majority-minority census tract, and shows a group of officers running scores of plates through permanent, private watchlists without associated cases.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-05-18
Audit Log AnalysisFlock Safety audit log entries — including unique IDs and timestamps — change between downloads, with 3-7% of records swapping daily. Because of course they do.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-04-08
Audit Log AnalysisAn analysis of 3,217 FreeForm search logs from 124 agencies reveals that Flock's "content moderation" blocks constitutionally sound searches while approving nationwide dragnets targeting military affiliation, political expression, and people wearing jeans.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-03-09
Audit Log AnalysisI think you should go home now, Flock! Get back on San Vicente. Take it to the 10, switch over to 405 North and let it dump you onto Mulholland — where you belong!
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-03-05
Audit Log AnalysisUnredacted audit logs aren't a leak—they're the only functional check on surveillance abuse
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-02-25
Audit Log AnalysisNCRIC's post-SB 34 policy changes stripped security requirements and audit oversight while its log data shows explosive, bot-like search activity from anonymous accounts—raising the question of whether California's largest fusion center is laundering out-of-state access to ALPR data.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-02-26
Audit Log AnalysisPolice routinely retrieve 30-day location histories for minor infractions, welfare checks, and "stranger danger"—not because investigations require it, but because it is the default setting.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-01-26
Audit Log AnalysisWith states enacting bans on interstate dissemination of ALPR data and the public's interest in oversight and accountability, Flock and police are getting creative. Flock built the tools to rebuild what state legislatures dismantled—one checkbox at a time.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-01-22
Audit Log AnalysisA Houston HIDTA bulletin, forwarded by the FBI to its intelligence community, instructs Flock users to enter vague search reasons and exclude agencies that comply with public records laws.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-01-17
Audit Log AnalysisHernando County's sheriff wants commissioners to help "minimize public discussion" of ALPR surveillance—and won't explain why in writing. Buried in his email is an admission he uses Flock data to dismiss witness testimony.
By H.C. van Pelt·2026-01-15
Audit Log AnalysisFlock unilaterally stripped officer names, license plates, and filters from the audit logs it provides to police agencies—the same logs the company touts as 'immutable' and 'tamper-proof.'
By H.C. van Pelt·2025-12-29
Audit Log AnalysisPolice searched Flock's license plate database over 3,000 times during a nine-week Amber Alert. The system had spotted the suspect before he even reached his target. In the end, a woman at a Nebraska truck stop did what billions of plate scans couldn't.
By H.C. van Pelt·2025-12-28
Audit Log AnalysisIowa agencies invent confidentiality exemptions, contradict their own legal obligations, and face zero consequences. A statewide ALPR records request exposes the system.
By H.C. van Pelt·2025-12-12
Audit Log AnalysisHave you seen this search log? 80% of Santa Cruz's logs disappear without a trace, and are presumed dead.
By H.C. van Pelt·2025-12-09
Audit Log AnalysisNot all audit data is created equal. Some agencies release complete records; others redact key information. Here's how to understand what you're seeing.
By H.C. van Pelt·2025-12-09
Audit Log AnalysisFlock removes device counts, blocks transparency tools, and disables Wayback Machine archiving. Their three-step plan to eliminate oversight.
By H.C. van Pelt·2025-11-14
Audit Log AnalysisFlock launches anti-oversight campaign as audit logs expose questionable agency actions. The company blocked transparency tools hours after publication.
By H.C. van Pelt·2025-11-11