Flock Safety loves to crow about the thousands of local law enforcement agencies around the United States that have adopted its avian-themed automated license plate readers (ALPRs). But when a privacy...
Read Full Article »Anti-Surveillance Mapmaker Refuses Flock Safety's Cease and Desist Demand
Discussion Points
- Balancing Public Safety with Individual Privacy: How do you think Flock Safety's automated license plate readers (ALPRs) balance the need for law enforcement agencies to track and prevent crimes with the concern over individual privacy and the potential for mass surveillance?r
- The Role of Grassroots Activism in Holding Corporations Accountable: What role do grassroots initiatives like DeFlock.me play in holding companies like Flock Safety accountable for their actions, particularly when it comes to issues of privacy and intellectual property?r
- The Intersection of Technology and Civil Liberties: How do emerging technologies like ALPRs impact our civil liberties, and what steps can be taken to ensure that these technologies are developed and used in ways that respect individual rights and freedoms?
Summary
Flock Safety, a company providing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to law enforcement agencies, is clashing with a privacy activist over the mapping of its camera locations. The company sent a cease-and-desist letter, claiming trademark dilution, but EFF rejected the demand, citing First Amendment rights.
DeFlock.me, a crowdsourced project, has mapped over 16,000 ALPR locations, including Flock Safety devices, raising concerns about mass surveillance and potential misuse by law enforcement. The case highlights the tension between public safety and individual privacy, as well as the importance of grassroots activism in holding corporations accountable for their actions.