Flock Sued By Man Detained Over LPR "Hot List" Error
Flock Safety and other LPR companies allow police to rapidly identify vehicles suspected of being associated with a crime by checking license plates against government-issued "hot lists." But what if a license plate ends up on a hot list by mistake?
That happened to an Ohio man who is now suing Flock over its alleged dissemination of a custom hot list wrongfully identifying him as a human trafficking suspect. If true, the man's allegations represent a worst-case scenario envisioned by privacy advocates for how LPR data systems such as Flock could lead to false arrests but is Flock at fault, as this man alleges?
In this report, we examine the man's lawsuit, including feedback from the Plaintiff and Defendant to IPVM and how it relates to an ongoing debate over the growing use of LPR technology by law enforcement.
Background And Related
- FBI NCIC LPR Hotlist Usage Examined
- The Power of National LPR Watchlists (Flock and Motorola) Examined
- California LPR Data Sharing Law Dispute Entangles Flock And Motorola
- Police Officer Abused Flock LPR Database to Stalk Ex-Wife
- ACLU Critiques Flock Safety
Executive *******
*** *********, ******* *****, ***** ***-**** ***** ***************** ** *** ******* ** ***. 25, ****, ** ****** ***** **** received ** ***** ******* ***** ******* naming *** * "*******" ** * "Cleveland **/*** ***** *********** ******* ********" case. ******** ******** ***** *** ** minutes, ********** **** *** ***** *** inaccurate, *** *** ***** **, ********* to * ****** **** *** ** submitted ** ********.
** *** ******* — ***** ***. 13, ****, ** **** ******* ***** —Smith ******* *****'* ******* *** * "critical ****** ****" ** **** ** lacks "* ********* ** ****** *** authenticity ** ***********" ******** **** ****** hot ***** ****** **** *** **** to ******* ****** ** ***** ***** customers. ********* ** *** *********:
***lack ** * ****** **** ********** ********* in FLOCK's product is directly implicated in the harm suffered by the Plaintiff. This critical deficiency allowed false and defamatory information to be disseminated, triggering a ******* ** ****** ******* ** *** ********** ******** *********. FLOCK's ******* ** ********* ******** ******** **** *** ***** ********** ********* not only contravenes best practices but also resulted in a tangible violation of the Plaintiffs rights. The tangible impact on the Plaintiff serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences stemming from the deficiencies in FLOCK's product. [Emphasis Added.]
*****, *** ** ************ ******* ** the ****, **** ******* ***** ** defamation, **********, ********* ** ************** ******, invasion ** *******, ********** ** ********* distress, *** **************** ** *** ****. He ** ******* $** ******* ** compensatory ******* *** $* ******* ** punitive *******, ** **** ** ** order ******* *****'* *** *********** ********* from ********* ****** **** ****** *** lists.
* ***** ************ **** **** **** there ** "** *****" ** *****'* claims *** **** ** *** "******* counsel" ** **** ********* ** *** case.
***** ***** ****** ***** ** ****** battle ******* ***** ** *****, ********** because ** **** *** **** * lawyer, *** *********** ************ ****** ** *** ******** ***** Liberties ********* *** ********* ***** **** ****** relying ** "******* ************ *******." *** case *** **** ***** ** * stark ****-***** ******* ** *** *** systems *** ** *******.
*** ******* **** ***** **** * growing **** ** ***** ********* *** privacy ********* ** ****** ********** ** the *** ** *** ****, ********** for ******** **** ** ******** ********* illegal ********** ** ****** **** ****-******** states *** **** ****** ********* ** other ******.
Details ***** *****
*****, **** **** ******* ** *****, is ******** ** * **** ******. He **** **** ** *** ****** home ***** * **** ***** ** driving ** ****** *:**** ** ***. 25, ****, **** ** *** ******** pulled **** ** ****** ** ******* Township, ******* ** *****.
******* ********* *** *** ** *******, the ******** "******'* ********** *** ****** why **** ******* **," ***** **** IPVM. "*** **** ********** **. * was *****, **** ***, *** [**** were] ******** ** *** ** **** with *** ** ***** ****** ******."
** **** ** ******* * ****** Flock ****** ***** ** *** *** go *** ********* ** *** ********* to ** **** *** ******* ****, prompting *** ** ***** *********** *** filing ****** ******* ********. ***** ** does *** **** ****** ***** ********, Smith **** *** ****** ** ** attorney *** ***** ** ****** ******** general *** *** ******** ***** ****** Tribes ** ******, *******.
***** **** **** **** ** ******* in ****-***** ** ***** *** *** by ******* ********* **** ***** ***** and ***** ** ***** **** ** ChatGPT "** ****** ** ** **** the ***** ******* ***" *** ****** complaints.
** *** ***** ** ***** **** lawsuits ** *** **** ******* ** attorney, ********* ** **** ******* ******* and** ******* **** ******* *** **** riders*** ********* *** **** ** ******** with *** ****** * ****-***** **** in ***** **** **** ****** *******.
Jackson ******** **********
****** ****** *** ******* ******* *****, Smith **** ******* ******** ****** **** the ******* ****.** **** *********,** ******* ****** ******** ****** ********* provisions ******* ************/******** ****** *** ********. The ****** ********** ******* * ********** with ***** ** ******** ****, ********* to *** *****'* ******.
***** **** ** ******** * ******** payment ***** *** **** *** **** the ****** ********** *** *** ***** to *********. ** ******** ** ******* further, ****** *************** **********. * ******** administrator ********* ** **** **** *** township ******* * ********** **** ***** without *********** ** *** ****. *** administrator ****:
**. ***** *** *** ******** *** reach * ********** **certain ******** ******, and all matters between them have been resolved. The Township does *** ******* ** ******* *** ******** **********. [Emphasis Added.]
No *********** *** *****
******* *** ********, ***** **** **** he *** ****** ** ********* *** his **** *** ******* ***** ****** ended ** ** * *** **** or **** *** *********** ****** ** other ***** **** *** ** *****. "Only ***** ***** ****** **** ****," he ****.
*** ***** **** *** ** ***** identified ***** ** *** ******* ***** and **** ** ***** *** ********* him ** * "*******." *** "***** trafficking ******" ****** ** *** ***** was******* *. ******, * ******** **-****-*** **** *** reportedly **** ****** ***** ********** *** was ******** ******* **** ********* *** 33-year-old *********'* ******.
* **** *** ******** ** ***** indicates **** ****** ******** *** ***** contacting *** ********* ****** ********** *** the *** *** ******** **** ******* agency *** ******* *** ** ********** with ** *************.
***** **** **** **** ** ** contacted *** **** **** *** ****** but *** *** ******* * *****. He ***** ** **** * ******* himself ******* ***** ****** "** *********."
"******* *** ** *** ***** ****** that * *** * ***** **********, and *********, **** ***’* *** ****," Smith **** ****. "******* ********** *********, *** *** ** put ** **** *** ****. **** just ********* **. *** ** **** right?"
***** ********
***** ***** *** *** *** ********* any ******* ** *** ****, * spokesperson *** *** ******* **** ** is ***** ** *****'* ******* *** intends ** ***** **. *** ************ told ****:
***** ***engaged ******* *** ** ****** ******* ** ******* *** **** in mention. In our opinion, there ** ** ***** ** *** ****** ******** ** *** ********* filed by the plaintiff. Flock does not create or manage any hot lists; our software merely integrates with lists maintained by law enforcement agencies. [Emphasis Added.]
*****'* *** **** *******
*********** ** *** *********** ** *** * ******* ****** the *** **** "************ ********* ****** ** * ****** or ****** ******* ****** ** * camera." *** ***** *** ********** **** the ***'* ******** ***** *********** ****** (NCIC), * ******* ******** *** ******** crime-related ***********.
***** *****, ********* ******* ******** **** as ********** ************ *** **********, "*** also ***** **-**** ******** ** ******* plates ** ****** *** ***** ** alert *** *********** ** **-**** ******** instantly **/**** **** ***** ***** ********," according ** *** *******.
****** *** **** *********** ** *** checked ******* *** ****, ***** ****** has **** ********** ** ***** ********* groups *** ******, ** *** ***** database ****** ***** ************, ********* ** Smith.
***** **** **** **** ** ***** as * ********* ***** ******** *** went ******* * **** ** **** of *** ******** *** *******, "*** can **** **** *** ****** *** list, *** **** ****** *** **** can ** ****** **** *** ****** agency."
"** ** ********* **** ****," ** said. "***** ** ** ********** ** the ****."
"Mass ************" *****
*****'* ****** ******* ***** ******* ****** concerns ******** ** *** *******, ** ACLU ****** ****** *******, ** ****** *, **** ******:"****-******* ******* ***** ** ******** * New **-****** **** ************ ******."
***** ***** *** ***** ******* ** the *** ******, ********* ******* *** Motorola/Vigilant *********, *** ****** ******* ** Flock ******* "** ** * ***, up-and-coming ******* **** ******** ******** *** is ****** *** ***** ********* **** geographically *** ** *** ***** ** technology ** ********."
***** **** ** ** ********* ********** "**** **** *,*** ***********" ****** the ****** ****** "** **** ***** and ***** ***** ** *** ******* of ***** *********** *** ********."
********* ** *** ******:
******** ****allows ******* ******owners ** ****** ***** *** “*** *****” that will generate ****** **** ****** ****** *** *******, but **** **** *** ****** ******* state **************** ****** ***’* ******* ******** ********,*********** ***** *********** ****** (****).**** ******* ****** * *** ******* *** of ***** *********,*** *********** ********** *********************.[******** *****.]
***** *** "** ****** *** ********" on *** *** ** *** ********* claims *** ******:
***** *** **** *******an ********** ******** *******-****** ******* sweeping up data on Americans’ activities, but puts itself at that machine’s center. It’s bad enough when law enforcement engages in such mass surveillance, but to have such data flowing through a private company creates an additional set of incentives *** *****. [Emphasis Added.]
*** ****** ******* ***** **** * "giant ************ *******" **** *****'* ****** might ** **** ** *********** *********** to ****** ******. ******* *** **** ********** *** ********** ***** ** **** by ****-******** ****** ******* ****** *** seek ****** *********, ********* *** *.*. Supreme *****'* *********** ** *** *. Wade.
Outlook *** *** ****
********** ** ******* ***** ***** **** merit, "*** **" ********* ********* ******** when ****** ******* ************ *********** ** professional ********* ** *****. ********** *** be ********** ***********, *** ****** ***** have ****** ******** *** ******* *** have * ******* ************* ** *** rules *** ***** *********.
*******, *****'* ***** ******* ** ********* a ********** **** *** ******* ******** police ********** *** *** ******** ** has *********** ********** ** *** ******* without ********** ***** *** ***** ** his *****. * *** ****** *** be ******* ***** ** **** ** win * **** ********* ** *** lawsuit. ** **** ******** ** ***** for ****** ************ ** *** ****.
** ******** ******* ***** ** ****** the *** ******* ** *******?
* *** *** ** *** "**** person **** ** ***, *** *** I'm ***** ***** **** ** ****".
** *** ** ******** *** ***** to ** **** *** ****** ******* to *******, ******** ** ***** **** significantly **** ****** ** ********** *** effort. ***** **** ******* **** ********** instances ** ****** ******** ******** *** for ********** ******** (*** **** **** post ***** ** **-******* ***** ***** to ***** *** **-*********://****.***/*******/*****-********).
***** ******* *** **** ** ********* by ******* ******** **** ** ********** associations, *** *** ******* *** **** that ** *** ********** *** **** information **** ***** ********* ** *** enforcement.
“********* *** **** ***** **-**** ******** or ******* ****** ** ****** *** Lists ** ***** *** *********** ** on-site ******** ********* **/**** **** ***** their ********.”
*** *** ****: **** ******* **** a ****** *** ****** * ***** Safety ******?
*** **** **** ** ****. ******* by *** ******* ********* ** **** of *** ***** * *** ** deal **** ** *** *** ***** I **** ** ****, **** ** going ** ** * ******** ********* for ****.
**** * **** ****** ** *** people **** ** ***** ********** *** things **** ****** **.
** ***** ** **** *** *** this ** ** ******* *** ****** hot ***** ******** ** ******* ******** to ** ****** **** ******* *** enforcement. ***** ***** ** ***** ******* why **** ****** ***** **** ** keep ***** ** ******** ** ***** own *****.
** ******, *'* ********** **** *** FLOCK ******. ** **** ********* **** seems ********** ** **?
**** ** *** ***, ****** *** technology, *** *********** *** ** **** exclusively ** ***** ** ***** ***** resources ** *** *** **** *** to *** ******.
*** *******, *** ***** **** **** in **** ***** ********* " *** Enforcement ********* *** ********* ******* *** a **** ***** *** ** ********** with *** ***** ********* **** *** last * ****** ** *** *** XYZ", *** *** **** ******* ** call *** *********** ** *** ******** a ******* ******** **** * ***********. This ** **** ***** ****** ** Law *********** ******** **** * ******* to ******* ***********, **** ** ** was *** ***** *******.
***** **** ******* ********** **** ******* to ** ** *********** ************* *** burden ** **** **********, ** *** be ****** **** **** **** ** technology (********* *******/******** ********) *** ******** in * ******** ** ******** ******** resulting ** *** ***** ************* ** bank ******* ********, ***********, ****** ******** etc.
***** *** **** *** **** *******, it's ********* ** **** ***** ** current ****** **** ******** *** ******** regarding *** *** ** **** **** of ********** ********** *** ** ** cognizant ** ***** ** *** ** improved ****. ***** ** ******** ****** for *** ************ ** ********* **** a **** ** *** ** **** legal ********* *** *** *** ** other ***** *****.
******: ******* ******** ********* **** ** reached * ********** **** ***** "** certain ******** ******." *** ********'* ************* declined ** ******* *******.
"**. ***** *** *** ******** *** reach * ********** ** ******* ******** claims, *** *** ******* ******* **** have **** ********. *** ******** **** not ******* ** ******* *** ******** litigation. ***** ***."
*** ******** **** *** ******* ** pending *** ******** **********.
** **** **** ******* ***-**********!
****** **** *** ***** ****** **** should **** ** ****** **** *** creator ** ********** *** *** **** everyone.
** **** *** **** ** ** well ******* *** *** ********* ******.
******* *** **** ************ ** *** one ****, *** **** ******** ***.
* ****** *** **** ***** ** involved ** *** *** **** *** forty **** ***** ********* *** ****** to **** **** **** **** *** right ******. ** ***** **** ** mad *** *** ** ***** **** took *** **** ** ** **** before *** ****** *** ****** ** jail. * ***** ***** *** ****** question ** *** **** ****** ** the **** **** *** ******* ** nothing *** ** *** ******* *********.
*** * **** **** *** *****.
**** ****** ** ****** *** ** the ******** *****.