EFF Flags ALPR Use Beyond Policing, Including School Residency Checks
EFF finds ALPR data used for school residency and background checks beyond policing.
Why it matters: Legal professionals advising public agencies must navigate growing privacy challenges as ALPR use expands. Privacy advocates face heightened concerns over data misuse and surveillance.
- EFF analyzed millions of Flock Safety ALPR searches extending beyond law enforcement, including school residency verification and background checks.
- Bandera, Texas, ended its Flock Safety contract amid public privacy backlash.
- Ventura County audit revealed over 364,000 unauthorized out-of-state accesses of ALPR data.
- North Carolina SBI aims to expand ALPR camera network after a pilot with 32 agencies.
- Cities like Mountain View and Cleveland disabled or resisted ALPR deployments due to unauthorized data sharing and immigration-related search records.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) exposed how millions of searches using Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers (ALPRs) have expanded beyond traditional law enforcement functions. These uses now include verifying school residency status, conducting background checks, and addressing noise complaints, raising substantial privacy concerns.
Resistance to such expanded surveillance is growing. In Bandera, Texas, the town council voted 3-2 to end their contract with Flock Safety amid public outcry over surveillance and privacy invasion. Similarly, Mountain View, California, disabled all 30 Flock cameras after uncovering unauthorized data sharing with hundreds of law enforcement agencies, including federal authorities.
An audit in Ventura County found ALPR data was accessed without approval more than 364,000 times by out-of-state and federal agencies between February and March last year. This lack of control over data dissemination exacerbates privacy risks.
Despite concerns, some jurisdictions continue to expand ALPR deployment. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation seeks to extend its ALPR camera network after a year-long pilot involving 32 law enforcement agencies.
Cities such as Cleveland face growing opposition fueled by findings of hundreds of immigration-related searches by out-of-state agencies utilizing the city’s Flock network, which intensifies privacy and civil liberties concerns.
Legal professionals advising public agencies must carefully consider the privacy implications as surveillance technology like ALPR expands into new domains beyond traditional policing.
By the numbers:
- 364,000+ unauthorized ALPR data accesses by out-of-state agencies — Ventura County audit (Feb-Mar 2025)
- 32 law enforcement agencies participated — North Carolina SBI ALPR pilot program
- 3-2 council vote — Bandera, Texas ends Flock Safety contract
Yes, but: While Flock Safety claims data ownership lies with its customers and asserts it does not sell data, multiple jurisdictions have experienced unauthorized sharing, undermining trust.
What's next: North Carolina SBI’s proposed ALPR network expansion could set precedent for increased monitoring. Ongoing public and legal scrutiny likely to influence future regulatory responses.