Journalists Uncover Police Misuse of Flock License Plate Surveillance System

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An investigation by The Washington Post, published on August 19, 2026, found instances of law enforcement officers misusing Flock, an automated license plate recognition system. The reporters identified cases of abuse that the officers' own police departments had not detected or investigated. The findings suggest that internal oversight of Flock usage within police agencies is inadequate or largely absent. Flock is widely used by law enforcement across the United States to track vehicle movements via camera networks. The report raises broader concerns about accountability and the potential for misuse of mass surveillance tools by public officials.

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