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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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A new tool has just launched that allows drivers to check whether their license plate has been searched in Flock Safety's nationwide surveillance camera network, as the company behind the technology rolls out a series of new privacy and accountability measures in response to the growing backlash surrounding the technology.
The tool, “Have I Been Flocked?” allows users to enter a license plate number and search a database of publicly obtained Flock audit logs.
According to the site's operators, the database currently contains records from more than 241 million Flock searches and includes information on whether a specific plate has been manually queried by users of the system.
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The launch comes amid growing national scrutiny of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology and concerns about how the collected data is used by law enforcement agencies.
In response to this, on August 13, Flock Safety announced several changes aimed at strengthening privacy protections, transparency and oversight across its platform.
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What Is 'Have I Been Flocked?'
The website describes itself as a tool that pulls together Flock audit logs, obtained through public records requests and government transparency portals. The logs show when someone using the Flock platform has manually searched for a license plate, as well as the reason entered for the search and other audit information.
Importantly, the site doesn’t just show whether a vehicle was merely photographed by one of Flock's cameras.
Flock operates a network of more than 120,000 cameras and connected devices that capture images of passing vehicles and use AI to identify license plates and vehicle characteristics. Those records are stored in a searchable database used by thousands of law enforcement agencies.
The operators of Have I Been Flocked note that their database only covers audit logs that have been released publicly and therefore represents an incomplete picture of searches conducted on the platform.
What to Do If You Find Your License Plate on 'Have I Been Flocked?'
How to Read Your Search Log
A search result generally indicates that someone using the Flock system manually queried a license plate through the platform.
According to the site's FAQ, a search does not necessarily mean the vehicle owner was stopped, investigated, or accused of wrongdoing. Search policies vary by jurisdiction.
Users reviewing a search log could see details such as:
- The agency that conducted the search.
- The date and time of the query.
- A reason code or written justification.
- Officer identifiers, user names, or case references where available.
Some searches may be tied to legitimate law enforcement activities such as investigations into stolen vehicles, missing persons, or violent crimes. Others may warrant closer examination if there is no obvious investigative basis or if the search appears linked to personal disputes or non-criminal matters.
Action Plan: 4 Steps to Take If You're Listed
Document Everything
Save screenshots of the search result, including timestamps, agency information, and any available case identifiers. Publicly available logs can change as additional records are released.
File a Public Records Request
The site's operators say the data is compiled from Flock audit logs obtained through public records requests and transparency portals, suggesting that additional details may be available directly from the agency that conducted the search.
Investigate Potential Misuse
Review whether the search appears connected to a legitimate law enforcement purpose. Privacy advocates have raised concerns in recent years about the potential misuse of license plate reader systems by individual officers.
Report and Escalate
If a search appears improper, individuals could file a complaint with an agency's Internal Affairs division, a state attorney general's office, or civil liberties organizations such as the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Privacy Changes Announced by Flock: What They Mean for Drivers
Flock's newly announced reforms are designed to address many of the concerns that have driven public scrutiny of the technology.
Among the most significant changes is a reduction in the company's recommended default retention period for ALPR data from 30 days to seven days. Flock is also introducing an "Evidence Mode" feature that allows data tied to active investigations to be preserved when necessary.
The company is additionally requiring law enforcement customers to use its Audit Assistance tool, which flags potentially abnormal search activity. Flock said users whose activity meets certain criteria may face automatic lockouts pending review.
Another change will require officers to enter a case code before conducting searches, creating a clearer audit trail.
Flock is also adding new controls that let agencies decide what kinds of cases other departments can use their camera data for, including the option to block immigration-related searches.
For drivers concerned about surveillance, tools such as Have I Been Flocked offer an insight into how license plate reader systems are being used.
At the same time, Flock's latest policy changes suggest the broader debate over privacy, accountability and public safety technology is far from over.
Newsweek has reached out to Flock Safety for comment via email.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.
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