Flock “can’t tech its way out” of the stalker cop problem, experts say

On Thursday, Flock announced plans to require all agencies with access to license plate reader data to use a safety tool that automatically detects abnormal activity and locks out cops who abuse their access to stalk people they know in their personal lives.

Flock’s audit assistance tool suspends access when user activity “meets defined criteria for abnormal behavior,” Flock said.

The suspension can only be lifted by administrator review, with the goal being “to intervene before misuse becomes recurring or widespread.” The tech has been available as an optional free feature since April, but only a third of agencies had opted in, Flock said.

However, after a single Georgia sheriff’s office used the tool and subsequently arrested three cops who were separately using Flock cameras to stalk acquaintances, Flock CEO Garrett Langley told The Verge that dozens of incidents like these helped his company realize they made a mistake and had to act to correct it.

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