<p>License plate readers have sparked a heated, nationwide debate over mass surveillance tools in law enforcement.</p><p>And Flock Safety, one of the more commonly known private security companies that markets plate readers, has found itself at the center.</p><p>Law enforcement officials insist Flock's plate-reader cameras are helpful crime-fighting tools, despite revelations that data from those cameras has been accessed by federal immigration agents and officials tracking abortions. Meanwhile, some cops have been accused of using the technology to stalk people and activists have been charged with stealing Flock cameras. </p><p>Here’s what you need to know.</p><h3><b>What’s a license plate reader?</b></h3><p>License plate readers are cameras that turn photos of passing cars into text descriptions that can be searched in a database, using the make, model, license plate and location of a vehicle. Users can then set alerts and get notifications for specific vehicles and plates.</p><p>Plate readers are different than red light cameras and speed cameras. which are only triggered by alleged violations. The data from those traffic cameras typically isn’t shared outside the city that owns them.</p><h3><b>What’s Flock Safety? </b></h3><p>Flock is an Atlanta-based company that makes surveillance tools, including drones and gunshot-detection systems similar to ShotSpotter, the technology Chicago <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/02/13/mayor-johnson-to-end-shotspotter-deal-after-summer" target="_blank" >Mayor Brandon Johnson got rid of.</a></p><p>Flock’s license plate readers are used by more than 7,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, including more than 500 in Illinois. They’re also used by colleges, such as the University of Illinois Chicago.</p><h3><b>Why is Flock controversial? </b></h3><p>Advocates have questioned whether arrests stemming from Flock alerts are constitutional because plate-reader databases can be searched without a warrant in Illinois.</p><p>An audit by the Illinois secretary of state’s office found that Flock license plate data originating in Illinois had been accessed by law enforcement officials from other states who were <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/abortion/2025/06/12/license-plate-readers-illinois-abortion-immigration" target="_blank" >monitoring abortions</a> and immigration enforcement agents coordination with local police is limited.</p><p>Dozens of police officials across the country have also been accused of making unauthorized Flock searches — <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/07/20/former-holiday-hills-police-chief-charged-with-making-nearly-300-unauthorized-searches-court-records" target="_blank" ><u>including some locally</u></a> — and many face criminal charges.</p><h3><b>How have people pushed back?</b></h3><p>Grassroots organizing movements have cropped up in some suburbs, including Woodstock and Warrenville, where residents have urged local officials to end agreements with Flock. Some municipalities, such as Evanston and Oak Park, have moved to end their contracts with Flock.</p><p>Amid the acrimonious nationwide fight over Flock, some activists in the suburbs have been accused of defacing and stealing Flock cameras and sensors. That includes three men <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/07/28/flock-license-plate-reader-lisle-bob-berlin" target="_blank" >charged with theft and criminal damage</a> to government property for allegedly cutting down and taking several cameras in Lisle.</p><h3></h3><h3><b>What’s being done to address concerns?</b></h3><p>Legislation aimed at bolstering protections has been proposed to the Illinois General Assembly.</p><p>One bill, known as the <a class="Link" href="https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=5151&GAID=18&SessionID=114&LegID=166766" target="_blank" ><u>Automated License Plate Recognition System Act</u></a>, would require annual audits and set stricter statewide standards for acceptable use. Another would establish criminal charges for misuse and transparency requirements clarifying which municipalities have plate readers. Neither bill has advanced out of committee.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/abortion/2025/06/12/license-plate-readers-illinois-abortion-immigration" >Mount Prospect police probed for sharing Illinois license plate reader data in Texas abortion case</a>
</li>
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/07/20/former-holiday-hills-police-chief-charged-with-making-nearly-300-unauthorized-searches-court-records" >Former Holiday Hills police chief charged with making nearly 300 unauthorized searches: court records</a>
</li>
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/08/26/license-plate-camera-company-halts-cooperation-with-federal-agencies-among-investigation-concerns" >License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies amid legal concerns</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
What to know about Flock’s controversial license plate readers 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-08-27 16:57:57
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
