Why It Matters
Lost Privacy
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) photograph every passing car, logging the time, location, and driving habits of innocent citizens.
Some ALPR camera providers have cameras recording more than just license plate information, they're also recording pedestrians. See Flock's own marketing materials for FreeForm. They can search for anyone. "Find suspects beyond your jurisdictional borders with access to thousands of shared cameras" means you can be tracked just about anywhere you go.
Amazon attempted to partner with Flock to increase their camera network, thankfully the backlash caused them to stop for now.
Potential For Abuse
Cops use ALPR systems for stalking.
Flock is changing terms and conditions to allow them to do more with your data. They're likely to continue to change the terms until it is nearly impossibly to stop a bad actor from accessing data about your movements.
Even if all the people who have access to the system currently are trustworthy it is still too dangerous to have. It only takes one person to turn a tool like this into a weapon. And a system this powerful will attract those people. Why should we pay for a weapon that could be used against us one day?
Limited Usefulness
A researcher who oversaw a study that suggested ALPR cameras reduce crime has changed his mind about the quality of the research.
Learn More & Take Action
Learn more about how mass surveillance cameras affect communities and find tools to map or legally object to it.
DeFlock
DeFlock is a project dedicated to mapping automated license plate readers worldwide to reclaim privacy.
Visit DeFlock.org →No ALPRs
Comprehensive guides, toolkits, and localized research tracking the risks and growth of mass surveillance.
Visit NoALPRs.com →Spread The Word
Help spread the word! More people getting involved means we're more likely to get rid of mass surveillance.