License Plate Reader Company Flock Is Building a Massive People Lookup Tool, Leak Shows
Flock, a company known for its automatic license plate reader (ALPR) systems, is developing a new surveillance tool called Nova that combines license plate data with personal information sourced from data brokers, breached databases, credit bureaus, and public records to help law enforcement identify and track individuals without a warrant. Internal documents obtained by 404 Media reveal that Nova aims to connect a vehicle to its owner and their broader social network using as many as 20 different data sources, raising serious ethical and legal concerns. The tool is already in use by select police departments and has prompted internal dissent among Flock employees, who question the morality of using stolen data. Civil rights advocates, including the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warn that Nova’s invasive capabilities could lead to warrantless mass surveillance and a dangerous erosion of privacy protections. Flock defends Nova as a customizable, transparent investigative aid, but ongoing lawsuits and public scrutiny highlight the growing alarm over the expanding surveillance state facilitated by private tech companies.