Flock Safety, a provider of automated license plate readers (ALPR), announced a significant policy change, reducing data retention for its cameras from 30 days to seven days. The company will also require law enforcement agencies to justify every search conducted through its system and mandate the use of its Audit Assistance tool.
These changes, detailed by CEO Garrett Langley, aim to address growing concerns from privacy advocates and politicians regarding the widespread use of ALPR technology. Langley stated that the new policy represents the "toughest license-plate-reader policy in the country." According to Flock Safety, approximately 90% of investigative searches on its system already occur within seven days.
Flock Safety faces criticism from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has accused ALPR companies of contributing to a nationwide surveillance network capable of tracking individuals' movements. The ACLU estimates there are around 120,000 Flock cameras in use across the United States.
Under the revised policy, a "case code" will be mandatory for all searches, a feature previously offered as an optional addition since July 2025. An emergency override function will exist for critical situations like missing children, though these searches will be automatically flagged for review. The company is also making its Audit Assistance system, which monitors for unusual search activity, a mandatory requirement for all law enforcement customers.
"The solution is not to remove the tools they need to do their job, the solution is to hold them accountable," Langley said. "Not enough cities are running audits. Not enough cities are actually checking what’s happening. So we’re just gonna force it."
Flock Safety is also introducing an "Evidence Mode" that allows data connected to a case number to be preserved, overriding the standard seven-day retention period if required by state or local law. Langley explained the seven-day retention was chosen after analyzing typical investigator search patterns, noting that a shorter 48-hour window could reduce crime-solving rates by half.
The policy adjustments coincide with legislative efforts in California, where Senate Bill 1013 seeks to establish statewide regulations for ALPR technology, including mandatory officer training, search logs, annual audits, and data deletion after 30 days unless linked to an active investigation. The bill has passed the state Senate and is awaiting action in the Assembly.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass recently called for an end to the Los Angeles Police Department's contract with Flock, citing a loss of public trust. Langley refuted the mayor's characterization of the system, emphasizing that LAPD controls its data and access, not Flock. He expressed disappointment with the mayor's stance, given the department's previous reliance on the technology, including its use during the Palisades Fire.
Flock Safety has reportedly reached out to the mayor's office to schedule a meeting and hopes to reinstate its system with LAPD under the new safeguards. The company maintains that its contracts clearly state the customer owns the data, not Flock, and that the LAPD contract holds no monetary value to the company.
The debate over ALPR technology continues, with the ACLU highlighting concerns about tracking innocent drivers and misuse by law enforcement, while police agencies emphasize its utility in recovering stolen vehicles and solving crimes. Langley indicated Flock Safety is prepared to implement further rule tightening as technology evolves.