ALPR Data Practices Under Scrutiny Following Baltimore Police Technology Use
What happened
WBAL-TV investigates the data collection practices of automated license plate readers (ALPR), noting that the systems collect information via roadside cameras. These cameras feed into a searchable system that law enforcement can use to track vehicles by license plate number or description, potentially without a warrant. The company, Flock Safety, was reportedly deleting collected data after 30 days by default, though it now recommends new customers delete data weekly.
From wbaltv.com
Why it matters
The technology provider, Flock Safety, is under scrutiny regarding its data governance protocols. Cybersecurity experts from Anne Arundel Community College have raised concerns about the aggregate data being used and the lack of controls over the information gathered.
From wbaltv.com
Who's involved
- Flock SafetyProvider of ALPR surveillance technology
- BaltimoreCity where the technology is being utilized by police
- Anne Arundel Community CollegeInstitution whose experts are commenting on the technology company
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The entities involved
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Flock Safety
American surveillance technology company
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Baltimore
city in Maryland, United States
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Anne Arundel Community College
educational institution in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
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Related events
- Flock Safety is identified as an American surveillance technology company.
- The Los Angeles Police Department began using services from Flock Safety on July 1, 2026.
- Police departments in Iowa rely on Flock Safety surveillance technology, while Emerson College conducted a voter poll and Jacqueline Thompson is active in politics.
- Companies like Axis and Genetec manufacture ALPR technology, while MapQuest offers a feature to avoid Flock cameras and the ACLU questions their effectiveness.
- Vogel's project maps ALPR camera deployments across the United States, coinciding with the rapid expansion of Flock Safety's network in North Carolina.