Kathmandu— Flock Safety, a US-based firm operating over 120,000 automatic license plate reader cameras across the country, has announced new privacy safeguards following investigations into alleged misuse of its technology by police officers. Reports surfaced earlier this month detailing accusations against at least 46 law enforcement officials who allegedly used the system to track individuals for unauthorized purposes, including stalking family members and ex-partners. The company is responding with changes to data retention policies, search filters, and audit features aimed at increasing oversight and preventing abuse.

Concerns Over Mass Surveillance

Flock Safety markets its cameras as crime-fighting tools for both law enforcement agencies and community groups like neighborhood watches. However, the company has faced criticism for creating a system of mass surveillance with limited external oversight. The Washington Post’s recent investigation brought renewed attention to these concerns, revealing specific allegations of officers using the license plate data for personal tracking purposes.

New Privacy Protections

In response to the scrutiny, Flock Safety announced several changes on Thursday. The company is reducing its recommended default image retention period from 30 days to just 7 days, and introducing an “evidence mode” that allows longer storage windows only in exceptional circumstances. Law enforcement agencies will also gain more control over data access through offence-based filters, allowing them to restrict which types of searches other agencies can conduct.

Enhanced Audit and Security Measures

Flock Safety is implementing a mandatory audit feature designed to document all searches conducted on the system and flag any unusual activity. The company will also automatically lock out users exhibiting “abnormal behaviour” for further review. By the end of 2026, case codes will be required for all law enforcement searches, adding another layer of accountability.

ACLU Response

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) acknowledged the reduction in data retention as a potentially positive step. However, they expressed skepticism about the overall impact of the changes, suggesting that many are superficial or simply recycled versions of previously inadequate safety features. The ACLU stated that Flock appears to be treating privacy concerns primarily as public relations issues.

Flock Safety’s new policies aim to address growing concerns about data privacy and potential misuse of its technology, but their effectiveness remains to be seen as the company continues to expand its network of license plate readers across the United States.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.