Perfect World
← Transcript library

How Flock LPR Really Works: License Plate Readers, Search & Data Privacy Explained

Flock3.5K viewsMar 11, 20263:09491 words
▶ Watch on YouTube⬇ Download transcript (.txt)

Summary

A neutral AI summary of this video is queued and will appear here.

Full transcript

Hi, I'm Ashley. I build software at Flock. You've probably heard of license plate readers and [music] thought surveillance. I understand why it feels that way, but that's not what we built. License plate readers take images [music] of vehicles. Flock LPR is used after a crime happens. Things like stolen cars, hit and runs, a missing [music] person. An officer can search for a specific vehicle tied to that [music] case. The LPR system doesn't track people and it doesn't predict when crime will happen. You can only search for vehicles on our LPR cameras, license [music] plates, make, model, color, and other unique identifiers like bike racks, trailers, [music] and toolboxes. There's no facial recognition and no ability to track a person. In most communities, [music] the data automatically deletes after 30 days unless local laws require something different. [music] The data collected doesn't live forever. Flock is built to help solve crimes faster and protect [music] people's privacy. When you hear Flock LPR search, you may imagine [music] some open, unrestricted database. Here's what the license plate reader search process actually looks like. The Flock system has built-in [music] safety guardrails that limit who can access our tools. Law enforcement agencies [music] also set rules based on their own policies. When an investigator is working on a specific case, say a kidnapping, they enter the offense type, case number, why they're searching, and narrow [music] it down to a time and a place. Flock requires users to log why they're running an LPR [music] search. If there's a match, the LPR search helps them figure out which car was there, and it does not give law enforcement any information on who is [music] in that car. Either the driver or any passengers. That's it. a focused tool to solve [music] real cases. That means missing people come home faster, more justice for [music] victims, and overall better safety for everyone. A fair question we [music] get a lot. How do police chiefs, law enforcement leaders, and elected officials know what officers are [music] doing in the flock system? First, every search and sharing request is [music] logged. Every search records who ran it, when, and why. Agency administrators can [music] run audits to identify any searches that don't match normal case work. Agencies also own and control all of their [music] data. Each law enforcement agency decides if and how they share their data unless laws and policies dictate otherwise. [music] Agencies can approve or deny data access requests from other law enforcement agencies on a one-on-one basis [music] or by geographic radius. Some agencies will choose to join statewide or [music] nationwide sharing networks where possible. and that's their choice. It's never auto approved and [music] they can change these settings at any time. Flock is designed to provide evidence with transparency and accountability [music] built in because we believe everyone has a right to be safe.