Flock Warns Custom Hot Lists Are Not Probable Cause
Highlighting the risk of misusing custom LPR hot lists, Flock Safety has cautioned law enforcement against making arrests exclusively based on appearing on one of those lists.
The disclaimer, advising that custom hot lists "alone" should not be used as "probable cause," appeared in an August 2023 Flock user guide obtained by IPVM.
Background
- The Power of National LPR Watchlists (Flock and Motorola) Examined
- ACLU Critiques Flock Safety
- Flock Sued By Man Detained Over LPR "Hot List" Error
- Flock Responds to "Hot List" Error Lawsuit
In this report, we examine the language in the user guide, Flock's new feedback to IPVM, and how it relates to Flock's past stance against giving law enforcement agencies legal guidance.
Executive *******
*** *******'* ********** ***** ****** *** lists *** ******** ***** ** *******, given **** *** ******* *** ********** stated **** ** **** "*** ******* any ***** ******** ** *** *********." Flock *************** **** **** *** ******* does *** ******* "***** ******," ***** it ******* ** "***** ******* ******* to * ******," *** **** ** does ******* "***** ***********."
****** *** *****, ****** ******** **** the******** ***** *********** ****** (****)*** ***** ********** *********, *** ** compiled ************* ** ***** *** ****** widely **** *** ***********. *** ******* has ***** ******** **** ***** ********* advocates,**** ** *** ****, **** *** ******** ** ** leading ** ****** *** ******** *******.
*** ******* ** **** ** *** center *** ******* ******* *** ********* ** **** *** *** ****** he *** ****** **** *** ******** by ****** ***** ***** ****** ** a ****** *** **** ** *******. The ******* **** ******** ** ******** 25, ****, ***** *** ****** ****** the **** ***** *** ********.
*** ***** ********** ******** *** *********** that ****** *** ***** ****** *** be **** ***** ** ******** ***** is *******, ***** **** *** ******* has ******** **** ** ***** ** legal ************** *** *** *** ******** are ****. ** *** **** ***'* case, *** ********,***** *** ********** *** **** ******** ** *** plaintiff "** *** ************ ** *****."
*******,* ********* *** ***** ********** **** IPVM**** ***** ************** **** *** ** employ *** ******** *** **** ** to *** *********** ****** *********. "*** law *********** ******** ********* ***** *** is ******* ***** ******** *** ***** city ********," *** ************ ********** ****.
*** ********** ***** **** ***** ******** more ***** *********** ** ********* ***** using *** ******** **** ** ********** indicated. ** ********* **** ** ***** as * ******** *** ***** ***********, that ***** ****** *** ******* ** liability ** *** *************, ** ***** rather *****, **** ** *** *** of *** ******** ******* ********** ** women **** ****-******** ****** *** **** lawful ********* ** ***** ******.
Language ** **** *****
*** ********** ******* ** * ******* of *** ***** ****** "**** **** Practices *** *** ***********," ***** ******** topics **** ** ****** *********, ****** tools, ********* ******** *** *****, *** receiving ****** **** *** *****. *** guide ***** **** "********* ** *** way **** ************* *** *** ** your *******, *** ***** *** ************* from *** ********* *******."
- ****
- ***** (******** ****** *** ******* *** Exploited ********)
- ***** ******** *****
- ****** *** *****
- ***** ** **** ************
- *** ***** ****** **** **** ****** and ******* *** **** ****
*** ***** **** ******** * ******* section ** ****** *** ***** ************, explaining **** *** ******* *** ******* to "**********" **** ****** ******* **** because ******* ** ******* ***** **** to **** ****** *** *******.
*** ***** ******:
Create * ****** *** **** to add these stolen vehicles and stolen license plates to *** ****** you **** ******* ***********. You can set the expiration date for the same day you are listing the vehicle so that when it expires, it will already be listed on NCIC. [Emphasis Added.]
***** **** ************ ***** *** ***** reasons *** ***** *** **** ** create *** ***** ****** *** *****, such ** **** ***** ** * "suspect ******* ******** ** ** *************." It **** ******** *** ** ***** the ****** *** *****, ********** **** users **** ******* **** **** ******** the **** *** *** ** ** shared ****.
Share *** ****** *** **** by clicking on the ellipsis on the far right of your custom hot list, selecting share, and selecting *** ****** **** ***** *** ***** **** ** *****. [Emphasis Added.]
*** **** ****** ***** ******* ** the ***** ** *** ****** *** list **********, ***** ******* ** * screenshot ** *** **** *********. ** states "**********: ****** *** ***** ***** should ***** ** **** ** ******** cause."
Flock's ******** ** **********
**** ***** ***** *** ********** *** why ** *** ******** ** *** guide, ******* **************** ********** ****: "***** ******** **** ********** to *** ** ******* ******** ****** hot ***** *** *** **** *** be **** *** ************* ********."
***** ******* ** ********** * "*****" in *** *******'* ******** ** ********* customers **** "***** ******," ****** **** IPVM:
*****has *** ******* *** ****** ** ********* *** ********* **** ***** ******. Flock customers should always consult with their own counsel on matters including determining how they want to handle data sharing, interpreting local laws, etc.The disclaimer on Flock's platform does *** ******* ** ***** ******; we are merely *********** *** *********:Custom Hotlists are subjective given that they are created based on investigative leads. Further, due the subjective ****** ** ****** ********, they must be coupled with other evidence and investigative tools in order to qualify as probable cause, as we understand it; however, we alwaysadvise *** *********, **** ******* ** *** ***** ******, **** **** **** ** ******* ***** *** *******. Lastly, Flock has no insight or control into Custom Hotlists. [Emphasis Added]
Past ********* ** ***** ********
**** ******* *********** **** *** *** of ***, ***** ******* ******* *** ability ** *** *********** ** ***** people's ******** ********** *** ****** ******, the ******* *** ********** ********** ** IPVM **** *** *********, *** **, are ******* *********** *** *** *** products *** ****.
** * ******** **** ********* ********* *************** ** * ********** law *********** ***-**-***** ******* ** *** data,***** ********* **** ********** **:
*** **** ** **** ***** *** enforcement ****** ****** ****** **** *** laws **** **** *** ******* ** socially ******** ** ** **. *******, Flock ****** ********** ** ******** *** agencies, *** *** ****** **** ***** laws.How *** *********** ******** ********* ***** *** ** ******* ***** ******** *** ***** **** ********.
***** ****** *** ***** ***** ** help ******** *** ***** ********** **** civil ********* ********, ********* ******* **** retention; ********* ****** ************ ******* *** providing * ********* ***** *** ** those ********; *** ***** ****** *********** technology; *** ***** *****.We ** *** ******* *** ***** ******** ** *** *********. [Emphasis Added.]
Guidance **. *********** **. ******
**** ******* ***** *** *********** ******* the ******* ** *** ********** *** "legal ******," *** ***** *************** **** IPVM:
***** ** * ********** *******legal ****** *** ***** ***********. Our disclaimer falls under *** ******. According to the ******** ******** ******: “***** *********** ******* *********** **** pertains ** *** ******* *********** ** the ***. *******, ***** ****** ** legal ******* ******* ** * ******. It ** ** **** **** * specific **** *** ******* *** ***** liberties *** *********** ** *** ****** it *********.” ******** ******** *********** **** *** ******* ******the ********** ******* ***** *********** ** “*********,” ***** ************** ***** ****** ** “**********.”
** ********** ******, *****’* ********** **making ** ************* ********* regarding the use of Custom Hotlists. There is no attorney-client relationship and Flock is not providing legal advice. [Emphasis Added.]
*** ******* *************** *** *** ***** when ***** ******* *** ****** "***** guidance" *** *********** ** ***** ** either "***** ******" ** "***** ***********." Thomas **** ****: "** ***** ********** mentioned, *****'* ****** ******* ********** **** what ** ****** ** ******."
Custom *** **** ***********
****** *** ***** *** ** ******* by "*** *********** ******** *** ******** teams" *** *** ********** ************ *** neighborhood ****** **** *** *****, *** company *************** **** ****. ******** ***** include "********-******* ******** *********, **** ** security ********* ** * ******** ** school, *** ********, *** *** *********** ***, * law *********** ******," ****** ****.
** *** **** ******* **** ** alleged ****** *** **** *****, ********* Michael ***** ******* **** ** *** not **** **** **** ** ***** user ***** *** ** * ****, such ** ******* ** *** * police *******, * ******* **********, ** any **** ** ***. ***** *** pulled **** ** ****** ** ******* Township, ****, ** ******** ****. ** alert *** ****** ** *** ***** system ******* ****** *** ** * "suspect" ** *** **** ** * missing ********,********* ** *** *********.
***** ******* *** ***** ******, ***** read *** *****, "*********** *** ************ false *** ********** *********** ***** *** plaintiff ******* *****," *** ** *** "never ** *** *** **** **** Cleveland *** *** ***, *** **** two ******* ****** ** *** ***** as ******** *********** *** ***** **** put *** ********* ** *** ********* hot **** ** ** *******."
***** *** ****** *********, ********* "'*** and *** ********* **********, *********, ** relating ** *** ****** *** ***** of *** ***** ********;' '*** *** all ****** ****' ******** ** ***** hot *****; ******** **** *** ***** hosted ** ******* ** ***** ***** 2020; *** *****'* ******* ******** ****," the******* **** ** * ****** ******.***** *** **** *** ******** ****** as ******** *** **** ** ** not ****** *** *** **** ****** to ***** ** *** ******* ****. It *** ***** * ***** ** dismiss *** *******.
************
*** *******'* ******** ** *** ***** lawsuit ** *** ************ *** ********** to ******** *** ******* ** **** it ******* *********** *** ********* ***** or ******** *** ********.
****** ************ ***** *********** ** ********* about ****** *** ***** *** ******** cause *** ******** *** ********; *******, it *** **** ** ****** *** aggrieved ******* ** ***** *** ******* is ****** *** ****** ** ******** that ******** ** ***** ******.
******** ***** ******** ***** ***** *** *********** ** traffic *****.
********** ***********.
*** ******, *** *******,********** ********* - *********
Reasonable *********** ****** ******** ** ************* ****** ******* ** **** ************ *****, *** ***** ******** *********************, *** **** **** ** "******** and **************** ********* ** '*****'";[*]** **** ** ***** ** "******** and *********** *****", "***** ******** **** rational ********** **** ***** *****",[*]*** *** ********* **** ** ********** with *** ******** **********.
**'* *********** **** ***** ***** **** 'disclaimer' ****** ***** *** ***** ******* was *****.
* ***'* ***** **'* *********** ** all. ********* *********** ****** ********* *** product ***** ******** ***** ** ****-***** feedback. **** *****, ** **, **** a ******** ******* ** "*** *****, a ***** **** **** ******* ** be ** * ****** ******* ***'* a **** ****** *** * ****".
**** *** **** ******** ** ****, I ***'* ***** ****** ****** ** surprised **** ***** **** **** ***** to ****** ****** *** ** **** utilize ***** ********. * ***** **** their ************** ** **** ** *** being ***** ******, ************ ** **** are ******** ** *** **** ** the ****** *** ***** *******/**** ** a **** ****** *** * ******** cause ****.
** ***** *** **** ********* **** "ensure *** **** ** ***** * other ***** ******** ***** ********* ****** using ****** *** **** **** *** a ****" **** ***** ** **** like ***** ******, ***.
* ***'* ***** **'* *********** ** all. ********* *********** ****** ********* *** product ***** ******** ***** ** ****-***** feedback.
'****** *********' ****** **** **** ******* had * ******* ** ***** **** they've ***** ******* - ***** ** not *** **** ** ***************** *******.
**** ** *********** (** **) ** that **** ***** **** *** ********** months ***** *** *******.... ***** (** me) *** *** ********** ** *********** admitting ** ***** ******* ********* ** the **** *******.
** ******** *** ********* * **** meant *** ********* ******* **** ********* go ******* ** ***** ** ****** feedback. *** *********** (***** *** ********* from ***** ******) *** **** ** this *******, ***. ** *** *** people ***** **** ******* **** *****, or ******* *** ***********, *** **** to *** ** ***** **** ******** in *** ***** *********. "********* ***** driver ** ****** ******" "** *** drive **** *** **********", ***.
***** (** **) *** *** ********** of *********** ********* ** ***** ******* liability ** *** **** *******
***** * ********** **** **************, ** interpretation ** **** **** **** ** a "****** ***'* *** ****" **** of *******.
**** ******. *** * ***** **** "please ***'* *** ****" ******** *** generally ****** ***** ******* ************ ******* to ******** *** *** ****. *.*. the ********** ****** ****'* ********* **** the **** ***** ******** ***** ******, but ******** ***.
*** *** ***** ********** ***'* ***** the **** ****** - ***.
******** *** ********* ******** ****** ********** suspicion - ***** ** **** * think *** ** ******** ** **** lawsuit **** *** **** *** ******* plate *** ***** ****.
**** ***** ***** ****** ** ** eyewitness **** *** **** * *********** of * ******* ******* *** **** they *** ******* *** ********* *** description *** ******* **** ***** ** that.
*** ** ******, ** ***** ******** cause - ***** ** **** * think ***** ****** **** ********** ***... to ****** ********** ** *** ******* lawsuit.
**'* ***** **** *** **** *****, but ****** **** (** **) **** a '** ****'* **' *****.
******** *** ********* ******** ****** ********** suspicion - ***** ** **** * think *** ** ******** ** **** lawsuit **** *** **** *** ******* plate *** ***** ****.
*****, *** *** ****** *** ***** are ********** ******-******* ****. **'* * reciprocal ********. *** ***** *** ** the *** ****, ** ** ****** stop ****. *** *** *** ***** on *** *** ****? *** **** entity **** ** ***** ** *** reasonable *****.
**** ** "***'* *** ****" ******* the ******* ** "***'* **** * vehicle ** * ******* **** *** yourself ******* ******* ********** *****".
* ********* **** ** **** ** the ***** ***** *** ***** ***** the ****** ** ****** ****, *** it ** ***** *********** *********** ****, or ********** ****, *** ** ****** not ** *** **** ************* *** reasonable ***** (** * ** ************* the ***** *****).
*****, *** *** ****** *** ***** are ********** ******-******* ****. **'* * reciprocal ********. *** ***** *** ** the *** ****, ** ** ****** stop ****.
** ** ***** ****** *** ******* can **** ****** *****.
** *** * ***** ******** ******** Integrator. ***** *** * ****** ****** installed-base **** *** **** ***** *********. We ***** ** *** ******** * pretty **** ******** ****** ******* **** LPR. ***, ** ***** ***** **** the ***** *** ***** *** ***.
"**** ****** ***** ****** ***** ****** from ********** **** ******* ***** *******"
"***** ********** ******* ******* ** ***** License"
**** ****** ***** ****** ***** ****** from ********** **** ******* ***** *******
**'* *********** **** ***** ***** **** 'disclaimer' ****** ***** *** ***** ******* was *****.
*******, * ***** **'* * ******* to ******* **** *** *******-******** ********** can ** ********* ** ***** ********. instead, * ***** *** ********** ** simple ********* *******-******** ** ***** *********** liability ** *** ***** *******.
***..... ****'* * ******* **** ****'* addressed ** **** *******:
******** ***** ******** ***** ***** *** *********** ** traffic *****.
********** ***********.
*** ***** ***'* ***** * ********** that **** ******* ***** **** *** not **** ********** ********* - ******* their **** ******* ***** *********** ** based ** ** ************ ****.