How Cops Use Flock to Track People, Not Cars

2026-07-16 · Source: 404media Feed · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, medium

Summary

Flock's FreeForm search feature is being used by police departments nationwide to track individuals based on descriptive characteristics, rather than solely scanning license plates. Data reviewed by 404 Media, collected via HaveIBeenFlocked.com, reveals hundreds of instances where officers searched for people using criteria like "heavy-set male with a black and white hat," "person on skateboard," or "male with tattoos," sometimes including race or political affiliation. Launched in February 2025, FreeForm leverages AI and image recognition across Flock's camera networks, including its Condor video cameras, to interpret natural language queries. This capability extends surveillance beyond vehicle tracking, allowing searches across dozens or hundreds of cameras simultaneously. Privacy advocates like the ACLU and Center for Democracy & Technology express significant concerns, likening it to a "bait-and-switch" from vehicle-focused tools to pervasive human surveillance, despite Flock's claims of "guardrails" and absence of facial recognition. Past issues include exposed cameras in December 2025 and a May 2025 plan to use hacked data for a people lookup tool, later scrapped.

Key takeaway

For policy makers evaluating surveillance technology, you must scrutinize the full capabilities of AI-powered systems like Flock's FreeForm, not just their advertised uses. Understand that initial pitches for vehicle tracking can evolve into broad human surveillance, enabling searches based on physical descriptions, race, or even political affiliation. Your community's privacy is at risk if these systems lack robust oversight and transparent usage policies. Demand comprehensive audits and clear limitations on how such powerful tools are deployed.

Key insights

Flock's FreeForm search transforms surveillance cameras into AI-powered tools for tracking individuals by descriptive attributes.

Principles

• AI video analytics enables broad, descriptive human surveillance.
• Surveillance tools can expand beyond advertised capabilities.
• Data aggregation increases privacy risks significantly.

Method

Police use Flock's FreeForm search by entering natural language descriptions (e.g., "person on skateboard") into a system that uses AI and image recognition to query footage across multiple camera networks.

In practice

• Request "Network Audits" from local police.
• Investigate camera systems' AI capabilities.
• Advocate for clear surveillance technology policies.

Topics

• Flock Safety
• FreeForm Search
• AI Video Analytics
• Police Surveillance
• Privacy Concerns
• Automated License Plate Readers

Best for: CTO, Executive, AI Product Manager, Tech Journalist, Policy Maker, AI Ethicist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by 404media Feed.