Police officers arrested for stalking ex-partners with Flock AI license plate reader systems

Several police officers arrested for using controversial Flock AI license plate reader system to stalk romantic partners, says report -- investigators have unearthed at least 18 such cases in the US over recent years

Privacy campaigners want to put a warrant requirement in front of Flock system use. Tens of officers have been fired, and some even arrested, for abuse of the Flock AI-powered license plate reader (ALPR) camera systems used by police departments throughout the U.S. 404 Media reports on this purported surveillance abuse, and reckons that the tens of Flock-assisted stalking cases tallied by investigators are just the tip of the iceberg. It also shares details of several cases where police officers go Flock crazy, repeatedly using the system hundreds of times to check on the activity of (ex)romantic partners. The source report starts with the example case of Jarmarus Brown, an Orange City, Florida, police officer. Investigations reveal that Brown looked up his ex-girlfriend's (and her close family members') license plates over 100 times while on patrol. The police officer's colleagues commented on the activity to Brown, hoping he would stop, and he indicated that he would. However, Brown couldn't resist stalking using the easy-to-access Flock. When he was eventually found out by authorities, Brown admitted he'd been "dumb" and blamed his emotional state for his Flock abuse. Research into this case revealed Brown was a very controlling person. For example, the source report says he would insist his girlfriend stay on FaceTime, even during work hours. He also put an AirTag in her wallet. This wasn't a one-off. 404 Media outlines several examples of police Flock abuse in Wisconsin, Missouri, Georgia, and Kansas. Most cases are pretty similar to that of Officer Brown. Obsessed romantically shunned police officers stalk (ex) partners using Flock for months or years before being found out. Mostly, their indiscretions come to light as a result of action from the person being stalked - a complaint, private investigation of some kind. What we see on the surface is "almost certainly a vast underreporting of the overall abuse," says 404 Media. This is because only the most egregious cases leading to police being fired or arrested would result in proper investigations and the documenting of the underlying issue. Flock Security says that with 140,000 monthly active users, abuse is "rare." It fights lawsuits and potential regulations, which would mean police need a warrant to use Flock. However, police departments allegedly rarely call out Flock abuse. Most complaints come from "victims who have found patterns of abuse in public records files they have obtained from their local police departments," notes the source. If you suspect you are being stalked, HaveIBeenFlocked.com is a good place to start by inputting your license plate number. The site has a searchable database of Flock ALPR inquiries released via public records requests. The site's future could be uncertain, though, as 404 Media says that Flock Security "has repeatedly tried to get that website taken down." Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.

Flock AI cameras allegedly used by police to stalk ex-girlfriends and partners

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. A hot potato: Several police officers across multiple states and jurisdictions have been arrested in recent months for allegedly using AI-powered Flock license plate readers to stalk their ex-partners. Marketed to law enforcement as a public safety tool designed to help catch criminals, the cameras have faced significant backlash from civil rights activists over privacy concerns. According to reports from various local and national news outlets, at least 18 police officers have either been arrested, fired, or placed under investigation for allegedly abusing data from Flock AI cameras to stalk their ex-partners. Investigators told 404 Media they believe the cases represent only the tip of the iceberg, suggesting that many incidents go unreported or are resolved informally with warnings rather than disciplinary action. In one of the most egregious cases involving the misuse of Flock AI license plate readers, former Orange City, Florida police officer Jarmarus Brown was arrested in February. He is accused of repeatedly searching his ex-girlfriend's license plates more than 100 times to track her movements and of sharing videos of her vehicle using his official agency-issued laptop over a seven-month period in 2024. In March, Milwaukee police officer Josue Ayala resigned after being accused by his ex-girlfriend of using Flock license plate readers to track her and her ex-partner across the city. He was later arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of attempted misconduct in public office for allegedly using his authorized access to search the Flock license plate database 179 times for personal reasons. In a separate case dating back to 2024, former Sedgwick, Kansas police chief Lee Nygaard was accused of tracking his ex-girlfriend's vehicle 164 times between June and October 2023. He also allegedly ran her new boyfriend's license plate 64 times and physically followed the couple in his police vehicle. Nygaard eventually resigned and admitted his actions were motivated by jealousy. Several other cases involving law enforcement officials using their access to stalk and harass former partners have been reported across the country over the past several years. Privacy advocates argue that the true number of incidents is likely significantly higher, as many cases go unreported or are handled internally by agencies to avoid potential legal liability. In response to growing concerns over surveillance and abuse of power, several police departments have ended their contracts with Flock Safety. According to a recent report, 53 municipalities across 20 states have either rejected or deactivated Flock cameras, with the Atlanta-based company also accused of attempting to limit public access to information about police searches of its license plate database.