Federal judge calls Flock ‘indiscriminate mass surveillance’

A federal judge ruled that a sheriff’s deputy violated a woman’s Fourth Amendment rights by using Flock to search for her license plate without a warrant. The judge characterized the use of the system as indiscriminate mass surveillance.

The ruling could increase legal scrutiny of automated license plate reader networks used by law enforcement. If other courts adopt similar reasoning, agencies may face tighter warrant requirements and limits on location tracking tools.