Florida County Orders Removal Of 98 Flock Safety LPR Cameras
Last month, Flock Safety received $150 million from mega VC firm A16Z and, at the same, installed 98 LPR cameras in a Florida county, free of charge, without the knowledge of key county officials and without proper permits. But despite the aggressive rollout, all 98 of the devices have been removed.
In this report, IPVM examines the incident as well as feedback from Flock Safety, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, and privacy advocate EFF.
Related: Flock Safety LPR Tested.
**********
***** ****** ******** *** ********* ** LPR ******* ****** **** ******, ******* in ***-**** **** ** **** ** a ***-***** ***** ******* **** *** Lake ****** *******'* ****** (****). *** cameras **** ******* * ***** *****, after**** ****** ************ **** *********** ********** ** ****** ** ****** ***** meeting***** ************ *** *** **** ** commission ******** ** *** **********:
** ** ***** **** **** ********* in ***** ****** ****** ********** ******** surveilling **** ****** *********, ******* *** approval. ** ** ***** **** **** spread ****** *** ******. **** *** been ********** **** ** **** ****** residents ******* *** *****-**-*** ******** ** permits.
** **** ******, "*** **** ****** the ****** *****-**-*** (*.*. *****)******** ** ******** *****-**-*** *********** ******."**** ****** ** ******* ** *** applicant ** *** **** ****** ****** Works **********. *** ** *** ******* were ********* ******* ******** "*****-**-***" *******.
April ****: **** ****** ** **********
*** *******'* ************ * ******** **** ***** ******** ***** **, ****, ******** ** the **** ***** *******. *** ****** confirmed ** **** **** *********** **** the******** ************** ************** *** ******* ******** *********, * *** ********, ****** *** agreement ******* *** **** *** ***** Safety.
Cost ** ***** - $**,***+
**** ********* *** **** ** *** free *******, ******* ** **** ** Flock, *** ~$**,*** (***** ********* ***** ** $*** *** *******). ********, *** ***** ****** **** of ***** ******* ** ~$***,*** ** the **** ***** ****** *** * value ** ~$**,*** *** *** ** days, *.*., */* ** *** **** offered.
***** ***** ********** ************ **** *** all-in-one *** ******, **** ** ***** a *********** **** *** * *****.
Advantage ** **** *****
*** ***** ********* ** ****, ** long ** *** ****** **** *** work ***** ******, *** **** **** it ** ******* ********* ***** ** easier *** ************** ** ****, ****** than ***** ******* *** **** *** complications ** ******** ** *****'* ****** who ** *** ***** **** * program.
Installed, **** *******
***** ******'* ** ******* **** ********* throughout **** ****** ** ***-**** ** part ** *** **** *****. ***** Safety **** **** *** ******* **** for *** ******** ** *** *******, which *** ********* ** **** ** days. *******, *** ******* **** ***** down ***** ***** ** ****.
August **** ****** ***** *******
************ *****,** *** ****** ** *******, **** **** ******** *** **** agreed ** *** *****, **** ** the ******** *****-**-*** ******* **** ******** for *** *******. ***** ****** ***** of *** ************* **** ** *** a ******* ** ** *** ****** deployed ** *** ****** ** ****** media:
******* *** ****** *****-**-*** *******, **** have *** ** ** ***** ******* surveilling **** ****** *********.
** ******* ********** **** **** ** the ******* **** ** ****** ***** they "***** ***** **** **** ********" even ** *****/*******'* ****** *** ******* for * ******:
**'* ********. **** **** *** **** in ****** ***** **** ***** ***** have **** ******** ** *** ***** place *** **** ****** *** *********** approvals ** *** **.
*** ************ **** ********* *** ******'* lawyers ******* ***** ****** *********** ** have *** ******* *******:
* ** ******* ***** ****, *** I ***** **** *** ***** ********** needs ** ******* **** *******, **** them ** ***** ** *** ***** devices **** **** *** *** ****** the *** ** ******* ** *** first *****, *** **** *** ** Lake ******.
***** ****** *** ********** * "******** violation ** *********" *** "***** *******, against *** *** *** **** [***** Safety] ** ** ****." ** ***** that *** ******* *** ***** ***** have ****-**** ******** ************ ** *** area *** ***** ******:
* ***** ****'** **** ************ **** any ******* ******** ********, ** **** had ******** **, **** **** ******.
Cease *** ****** *****
** ****** **, ****, ** *** wake ** *** ****** ***** *******, the **** ****** ********'* ********** ***** ****** * ***** *** Desist ******** "*********** ******" *** ******* **** county ********. *** ****** ***** *** lack ** ******** *******--"** ****, ** such [*****-**-*** ***********] ******* **** **** applied ***, *** ******** *** *** installation ** ***** *******,"--****** ******** ***** to *********** ****** *** *******:
No ******* *******
**** ****** ********* **** **** **** Flock ****** ******* *** *** ** of *** ********* ***** ******* **** installed *** **** "***** ********* ******* at *** ********* ******* ******* ******* first."
Cameras ***** ****, **** *********
*** **** ****** ********'* ****** **** IPVM ** ****** ** **** "*** of *** ******* **** **** ******* either ** ***** ****** ** *** county."
***** ****** **** **** **** **** personnel *** ****** ** *** ***** server *** *** **** ** ************* deleted ***** ** ****:
*** ******* ** ******** ****** ** an ********* ***** ****** *** ************* deleted ***** ** **** ** * rolling *****. *** **** ****** **** had ****** ** *** ******* **** LCSO ********.
*** **** ********* ** **** ********* about *** **** ********* ****** *** program ** ****** **:
** ** ****** **** ****** [** the ***** ******]. **** *** *********** the ***** *******, *** ****** *** canceled.
Flock ******: * ****************
**** ********, * ***** ****** ********* ***** Manager, **** *** **** ** * March **** ***** **** ** ******* would ** ********* ** * ******** where ******* **** *********:
***** ****** **** **** **** ***** was "** ****** **************** ***** *** need *** ******* ** **** ** these *****":
***** ****** ********** ******** **** *** Lake ****** *******'* ******, *** ** worked **** ***** **** ** ****** locations. *** *** ********* ******* *******, and ***** *** ** ****** **************** about *** **** *** ******* ** some ** ***** *****. ***** ** learned ** *** *******, ** ******* to ****** *** *** *******. ** have ********* ***** ** ******* ****** the *******, ********* *** **** *******, and *** **** ***** **** *******. We ****** ** **** **** ***** crime *******, ***** *** ****** ********* during **** ***** ****** **** ****** of ****** ******.
LCSO: ***** **** ** ******* ******
**** **** ***** *** **** ******* the ****** *** ***** **** ******* were ********* *** **** **** ** be ****, *** **** ******** **** to ***** ******'* ***** ******* ** permits **** ******** *** *** ******** locations ** **** *****:
****** *** *** ***** ***** ** which *** ************** ******* ****** ** cameras ***** ** ****** ** ***** requiring **********.
Flock ****** ********** *********
*** ****-**-****** **-****** ***** *******, ******* with*****'* ****** $*** ******* *********** ** ********* ******** (****), ** a **** ** ***** ******'* ********** expansion.
**** **** ** ************ ** "****** standard" *********,******* *********, * ****** ******* ** *** EFF, ****** **** ****:
****** **************, ****** ******, *** ************* don't ***** **** **** ********** ***** rank *** **** ******** *** *****, because **** ********* **** ***** ***** sales ***** ******** ** ***-***** ******** and *** **** ******** ** ***** hands, ******* **** *** **** ****** to *** ** ******* **********. **** if *** ** ******* ** *** chain, * **** ** ************ *** dubious ********* ***** ** ***** ********* is **** ** **** **'** **** seeing ****** ******** *** ****** *** country.
********* **** ********* ** *****'* ***** expansion *** *** ***** ** * consumer ******** ********** ** * ********** contract ******** "**** ***** **** ********* in *** ****." ** ******* *** approach ** ********* ****** ****'* ******** to **** ****** ** ****** *** can **** ****** ** **** ** fellow ****** ** ***** ********* ************:
***** ** ********* **** *******, *** they're ***** ** **** * **** of **** ******** ******** ****** **** a ********** ******** ******** **** ***** ALPR ********* **** **** ** *** past. ****'** ****** **** ** ********* out ** *** ****** **** ********. This ** * ****** **** **'** seen ***** * *** ***** ** to **** **** ****** ** ******, give **** ********* ** ******, *** them *** **, *** ** ******** for **** ************, ****** *** ******** then ** ** *** *** **** about **** *******, ******* **'* **** other ****** ***********, ** ******* **'* with *** ** *****'* **** *********, are ********* ************.
Privacy ********
*** ***** ******* **** ************ ***** raised *** *** ******* ** **** County *********:
* ***** **'** *** ****, ********** of **** ********* ********** **** ************ technology *** ** ******. *** *'* very ********* ***** **** ** *** privacy ** **** ****** ********* *** that's, ****'* ***** *'* ****** ****.
** **** **** ****, ********* **** incident, **** ****** ****** *** * clause ** *** ****** **** **** surveillance ********** ********* ** ****** ***** would **** ** ** ******** ** the ***** *****:
*** ****'* ** ********** ** **** we *** *** ** **** ** soon ** ********, *** ******, **** we *** ********* ** *** **** to ********* **** *** **** ** surveillance ********** ****'* ***** ** ** installed ** ****** *****-**-***, *** ** come ** ** *****.
*********, *** *** *******, ****** ***** possible ******* *** ** *** ****** by ****** **** ****** ** ***** people:
*** **** **** ********* ******* ***** readers ***'* **** *** ****** ***** illegally **** ****** ** *** ******** but ****, ***, ** ****** ** the *******, *** ****** ** *** material. **** ***** * **** ****** to, ***, ******* ** ******** ******** and ******** ****** *** **** **** neighbors *** ****** ** **** *** keys ** *** ******* ***** ****** system.
**, *****'* * **** ******* **** automated ******* ***** ******* **** *** police **********, ** ****** *** **** at *** ********** *********** *** **** access ** *** ******** *** ***** to *** **** *********** ** **** out **** ***** *********** ***** ** driving **** * ******* ************ ** trace ***** *** ** **** ** about ***** *** ** ** *** if ****'** ******** * ******* ********.So **** ** ***** ** *** ******** **** ********* ******* ***** ******* *******, **** ******* ***'* **** **** *** ****** *** ***** ** *** **. *** ****** *** ******** *** *** ****** ***** *** **** ******** *** ******* ******* ** ****. [emphasis added]
Outlook - ********** *********
****** *** ******* *** ********** ********, this **** ***** *** ********** ***** Safety ** **** *** ***** *******. If *** ******* ** ******* *** able ** ** **** ********* ****** (and ***** *** **** *******, ** likely **), **** **** ******* ***** a ***** *********** ********* **** *** rivals.
**** *** **** **** ** ***'* position ** ********** ************ ********* *** a *****.
*** *****, **’** ****** *** ****** data ** ***** **** ********** **** misuse ***** ****. ** **** ***** request ***** ******* *** ****** **** under *** ********** ****** ******* ***. We’ve **** *******, *** **** *****, assisted ***********, *** ****** ** ****** public ******** ** ****** ***** ********* overseeing ***** ********* **** **** **** of ******. **** ** *** ***** report **’** ********* ************.
********** ******** **** *** ******** ** Track **-********** - ******** ** ********(***** ** * ***** ****** ** the ***)
**** *** ***** * ************ ******, you ****** ******* ******** ******* **** ******
** ** ****, *** *** ***'* saying **** ******* ******:
*****://******.***/*******/********************************
*** *** **, ******* ******* ******** to ***** ******** *** ***-**** ****** departments, ***** *** *********** ******** *** employees *** ******* ********* **** *****, suspended ** ******** **** **** *** times ******* **** *** ****. **** received **********, ********** ** ****** ********** in **** **** *** *********, *** review *****.
*******: **** *** ******** *** ***** spying ***** ** **** ********* - The ********** ****
*** ******** ******** ****** ******** ** a ********* ****** **** ***** **** been “**** ****” ********* ** ******* violations ** ****** ********* ** ****** officers. *** **** ****** ****************** **** ** ***** ******* ********** involved ********* ******* ************ ****** **** *********:
*** ******** ***’* ******** — *** official ********* * ******* ** ***** in *** **** ****** — *** it’s ****** ****** ** ****** *** own ******** *****: *******.
*** ***** ****** ********, *'* **** to **** *********** ****** **** ** ******* ** city-wide ************. **** ** *** **** sense ** *** **** ********* **** the ***** ** ******** *********** ********* with ***** ** ************* ****** **** access ** ***** *********** ** *** when *** ********* ******?
**, ** *** ******** **** **'* up ** *** ****** ** **** the ******* ******** *** *** ***** staff *** *** ******?
*'* **** *******, ** * ***** both ****** *** *********** ****** ** discuss, *** *'* **** ** *** where ******'* ******** ***.
**** ****** *** **** *** ** me. ***** ************ ** ******** *** every **** **** *** ******, ******** etc. *** ********* *** ****** ** corporations *** *********** ** *** *****. Look ** **** ***** ** ***** with *** **********. **** ** **** was ******* **** *** ********** ** already ******* **** **** ********** *** monitoring. * ***'* **** **** *** answer ** ** **** *** *********** safe, *** ******* *** ****** *** freedoms.
***** ** *** ******** (*** *****) provided ** ****, ** ***** ***** Safety ** ***% ** *****.
** *** ***** ****, **** **** the **** ****** *******'* ****** *** the **** *** *** ******* ******** from *** **** ****** **********.
* ***** ***** **** ****** **** some ************** (**** ****** *******). *** all, *** ****. ****** **** ****** have ***** **** ******** ** *** equipment (*******, ******, **** *****, ********) on ****** ******** ***** ******* **** sort ** ********.
**'* ** *** ********* ** *******, of ******, *** ***'* ***** *** Sheriff's ***** **** ******, **?
*** ***** ******: "** **** *** be ********** ******* ******** **** ***** need **********". ***** ****** *****. *** if **** **** **** ** ********, it *** ******* ** **** *** in *** ****** ********.
** *** ***** ****, ** ******* that *** ******* ****** ** ******* this ******* *** ****** ******* *** approval. ************* **** *** ******* ** do **** *** ********* ******* ***** and *** *******.
**** * ****.
** ***** *****. *** *********** ** provides ** *** **** *********** *** can ** ** ****** *** *** when *** **** ** * ******* plate. *** *** *** ****,*****, **** and *****. ** ** ***** *** the *********** *** ***** ********** *** criminals *** *** ******** *****.
**** ****** ** **** ******** **** politics ** *** *** **** ******* Google ******** ** ******
** * ****** *** *** **** time **** **** ****** ** *** the **** ** **** ********* ******* to **** ** ***** ********.
** * ****** *** *** **** time **** **** ****** ** *** the **** ** **** ********* ******* to **** ** ***** ********.
****, *** ****** * ***** ***** to “****** ***”, ** ****** ******* threatening.
*** **** *********** *** *** ** on ****** *** *** **** *** type ** * ******* *****.
*** ** *** *** ****. *** even *****. *** *** ** **** to *** *** ****, *****, *** color *** *** ********* ***'* *** thirty **** ** ** ******* ******* from ******. ****** ***'* **** *** what ************ * ***** ******* ** 2300 **** ***** ** ***** ** vehicle *** ** **** **** *******. At ***** *** ***....
*** ***** ** **** *** **** when*-****** *** **** **** ******** **** away *** ***. *** ***'** ***** ****, ****** searches ***'* **** **** ***** ** publicly***...
********* ******** ** ***** ** **** or ************ *** ** ******* *****, we've ***** **** "* ****************" ** really "** ** ****** ** *** for *********** **** **********".
"***** ******: * ****************"
** ***** **** ******* **** **** from *****.
****** **** * ***** *******.
**** ****** ****** ** *** *** of *** ******* ** ****** ******** actually ****? **** **** ** ********** they **** ** **** ****. **** the **** ** ***** ***** ***** the *** *** ******* ** * Homicide ******* *** *** ***** *** on *** ** *** *********** ******* w/o ****** **** ******* ****.
This ** ******* *****, and something I've seen plenty of times in my region. Guess what? Doing things the right way (permits) is hard, takes a long time, and is expensive. They just come in and pretend that the DOT rules don't apply, and pop these things up.
**** ***** - ********** *********** ****** are ****, *********** ***** * **** time, *** ******* ******* *** *** hoops ** ** ** *** ***** way ** **********. ***, *** ******* is **** **** *** ****** *** rules **** ******** *****'* *** ** having ** *** **** **** *********.
****, * ******** ******* ** ********* should **** **** * ***** *** flag *** * ******* **** ***** with ********** ******** -- ** **** actually *****, ** ********** *** ********. In **+ ***** *'** ***** *** a ******** ****** ** *********** * patrol *******, *** ***** * **** accept **. *** *** **** ***** a ******** **** ******** **** ****** to ********, *** **** ** ** binding? **** ****** * ******** ** a ** **** *** -- ****, that ***** **** **.
*** ***'* **** **** *** -- LCSO ******* **** **** ** **** them, ** ** ********* $***,*** *** year (*******). *** **** **** *********** look ** *****? "******* *********** **** to*******,*******,*********, *** ** *** ******* **** are ******* ******* *** ***********." **** a ******** ****** ***** **** * field *** *********** **** ***********, *** to ******* **** ** *** *** signed ** * ***-***** *******.
***** ** ************* ***, ******** *** nose ** *** *****, ******* ** pump ****** ** ** ** **** for * *** ****. * **** to ******* *** *** "***********" *** companies, *** * **** *** ***** respect *** ****. *** ***** *** accomplished **** **** ***** ** ** give *** * **** ***** ***, and **** *** **** **enormous, ********** ***-******* ** *** ********** ** * ********** that, when properly procured, permitted, and installed, is heralded by law enforcement as a game changer.
**** ***, *****. ****** *** *** "help."
** ** ********* $***,*** *** **** (forever)
******* ********, *** ** *** ******* deployed ********** * ****** ** **** really *********? ***** ****** *******, ********, networking, ***********, ***. ** **** *** in * ********, *** ****, ** would ** ********* *** * ** genuinely *** ********* **** *** ******* is ** *** *********** **** *** being ******** ** ***** ********** * county. ********? *'* ******* ** ** convinced ********* *** $*,*** *** ****** per **** *** **** * ***** does *** ****** ** ** *********** a ***-***.
**** *****, ****. * *** ****** that ******* ** ** ********** **** them, *** *** ******** ***** ** this *******. ** ** ****, *** time ***** ** * **** **** more **** * ***** ****** ***** cost ** ********* ******** ** *** solution **** ** ***. ****, ****** is * "*******" ****, ***** **** makes ** *********. ******** * ****** that **** ** *** *** *** world, *** **** ******* *** ***** - **** - * ***'* **** to **** **. ** **** *** solutions **** **** **** ** ***** since ****.. **** *********, ******* ***** along ***** * ***** *** ** a **** ********** ****** *********** ****. So, *** **** **** *** **** solution **** ***** ***** **** $*,*** per ****** *** **** **** ********** me, *** ***** ** *** ********** like *********.
** *** ** ** ***** *** at ******** ********* *** **** *** county, **** **** ** ***** ********* to **** ***** - ****, ** that **** *'* *** **** **** egregious.
***, ** ********** **** **** "*** it **" ******** ** **** ** requires ** ****, ** ********* **** cameras **** ***** *********, *** $**,*** per **** - ******* - *** a * *** ************ ** ********* in ** *******. **** *****, ***** a ****** **** ***** ** *********, since ******** *** ****** **** **** of *****.
**** *** ********** ****** ****, ***** based ** ** **********, *'* ** very ******* **** * ******** **** this ******* **'* *** **** *** a "*** **********" ** "*** **************" to ***. ** **'* **** * service ** *** ** *** **** a **** ***** ******, ** **** other *********. *'* ***** ****** ******* that *** *********** ***** *** ** maintenance ******, *** **'** ** ***** still ** **** ** *** ***** it ******. ***'* **** **, ********* as ****** ** * ********* ***** change (** **** * ** * members) ***** ****** ** * *** way ** ******* ** *** ** a ********. ** *** ** ***** is *** **** ** ***, "****** the *** *******" **** ** * bed ** ********* **** *'* ****** not **** ** ***** ***. *** technology ** ******** *** ******** ** sit *********** **** * ****** ********* whim.
"**** ***** ***** ******." *** ***? Well, ** **** *** **** *** title ** **** *******.
**'* ********** **** ***** **** ** of *** ***** ** *** ***** place.
****** ***** ***** ********* ******** ***** points *** *** *** ****** **** number *************.
**'* ********** **** ***** **** ** of *** ***** ** *** ***** place.
**** *** *** **** ****, **** loaned ****.
****** ***** ***** ********* ******** ***** points *** *** *** ****** **** number *************.
**** *** ********** * ******, *** a ****** ****.
****, ****** **** *** ***** **** with ****. *'** **** **** ***** into ********** *** ******** ** "*****" 10 *****, ** ****, ** ** cost ** *** ******. ***, ** a **** ****** **** **** **** locality *** **** **** * ******** for $**,*** * **** *** *** they ***** *****.
******* ***** ******* ** *** **** of * **** ** * *********** for * *********'* *********** ** *** thing. ******* **** ** *** *****-**-*** on * ****** ******* ** ********* totally *********.
* ***'* ********** **** "***** *** pray" ********. **** ** *** ******** I **** **** ***** ***** ******, let ***** *** ********, *** ****** of ***** **** **** ***** *** for "******."
*** ****** ******** ***** ** ****.
*. ** **** ** *** *** funding **** **** ***** ********* *** at ***** * ****** ******, **** may *** ** ** ******* ***** the ***** ******** **** ** **** free ******. ******* ** *****, ** long ** *** ********* ****.
*. *** ******* ** "**'* ****** to *** *** *********** **** **********". Happens ***** * *** **** **** I **** ****.
**** *** *** ** ** ******* about *** ***** ******** **** ** many **** ******.
* ******** ***** **'* ********, ********** when **** ** ** **********.
*****:
**** ***** *** **** **** $**,*** - $**,*** ** **** ***'* ***. Let's *** $**,*** ** * ***** number.
**** **** ********, **** ***** ** expecting $***,***+ ****** *******, *** ******** to **** ** ***** * ***** and * **** ********** *********** ** them ********* ** **** ********* (*.*., greater *******).
***** ******** ***** ** **** ******* to ****, ****** $* *******.
*** **** **** **** ** ****** out ** **** ***** ******* **** is ** *** *****, ***'* *** 25% (****** * ****** **'* **** higher). ** ***** $***,*** ($**,*** *** trial * * ***** ** *** assuming * ** * ***) *** in ****** *** $*+ ******* ** revenue.
** **** ** ** ***** (*** since **** ** ******* **** **'* not), ** ***** *****, **?
*** **** **** **** ** ****** out ** **** ***** ******* **** is ** *** *****… ** **** is ** ***** (*** ***** **** is ******* **** **'* ***), ** makes *****, **?
** **** ** ** ***** ******, there ** *** **** **** **** give **** *** ******.
** *** ***** ***** **** ****** will *** **** ******* *** *******, with ****** *** *********, ***** *****?
* ***'* ***** **** *********'* **** on ****:
*'* **** ** **** *** **'* recommend ** *****/******* **** ***********. ***** a *** ******** ** ** *******, and *'* ****** **** ****/*** ********* in ****** ** *** ****-**** ************ network **** *** ***** ** *****-***** monitoring *********. ******** ***** ** ***** alerts, ****** ********, *** ***** *********** have *** ********* ** ** ***** as *** **** *** *** * location ** * *** *** ******** appropriately.
***** *** ****** ** ****** *****, **'* ** ** *** *********/****** to **** *** ******* ********* *** vet ***** ***** ***********.
****, ***** ******* ********!