The Power of National LPR Watchlists (Flock and Motorola) Examined
Network effects are powerful in social networks and uncommon in physical security, but cloud LPR providers such as Flock and Motorola are building national databases that raise important competitive and privacy concerns.
In this report, based on feedback from Flock and Motorola, and our investigation into how US government LPR watchlists work, IPVM examines the size and scale of the feature and the powerful network effect it provides law enforcement, contrasting it to Clearview's controversial database.
Executive ******* - *** **** ** ********* ******** ********
***** *** ************ *** **** ******* with ** ******** **********, **** ***** and ******** ******* **********, ********** ******* them **** ** ********** ******** **** are ********* ********* ********** **** *** public ** ***** ********* (*** *** this ***** -*** **** *** ******* ***** ********).
***** ********** ******** *** ***** ** these *** ******* *************, ** ** allows *** *** **** ****-**** **** than ** **** ****** *** ** manually ***** *** ******** *** *** lists (*** ********** **** *** *** systems).
****** *********, ***** **** ** ********** for ******** ***** ***** ****** ***** websites *** ******* ******* *** ***** action, **** ***** *** ******** *** legally ******* ***** ***** ****** **** government ********. **** ** ******* ** this *********** ** **** **** ******* must *** ********** **** *** ******** local ******** **** ******* ***** *****, making *** ***** ** ***** ******** critical ** ********** ******** ** ******** license ***** **********.
Flock "******** ******" *********
**** ***** ****** ******* ********** (***,*,*) ***** ** **** ****** ** local ********** ******** ********* *****'* **** center *******, ***** ***** * "******** Lookup" ******* ** **** ** * "network ** *** *********** ********":
**** ***** *** **** **** ******* disclosed ** ***** ******'* *******:
*******, ** ***** ***** **** ****, ***** ********** * "******** *** statewide *** *********** ****** *******" ** give *** *********** ****** ** *****-************** data:
** *** ***** *** *** *********** who **** ** ****** * ******** license *****’* ********. *** ****** ** local *** ******** ******* ***** **** month ** *** *** ****** *** evidence *** **** ** ***** **** cases.
~80% ** *** *********** ***-**
***** ********* ** **** ~**% ** law *********** ********* ***-** ** ******** lookup.
*** ******** ****** ******* ** **** available ** *** *** *********** ********* - *** ******* ********** ** ****.And ~**% ** *** *** *********** ********* *** ** ** ***** **********, while about 84% opt in to share within their own state (there are three options: 1. share nationally, 2. share within the state, 3. share one-off with neighbors / or not at all). [emphasis *****]
***** **** ****** ***** **** ***-** to ****** **** *******:
*** ***, *** ********* **** ***** to *** ** ** ******* **** feature.If **** *** *** ***** **, **** ****** ****** **** *******. [emphasis *****]
1,600+ ********* ******** ***** *****
*****'* ************* *,***+ *** *********** ******** ** customers. ***** *****'* ***-** ****, *,***+ law *********** ******** (~**% ** ****+) are ********* ******* *****'* *******.
*** ***** *** ******** *** ******** purchases ** ***** ****** *** ************ the ******* *** ***** ** ***** use ** *** *********** ****** *** United ******:
*** **** ****** ** *** **** through *******. *******, ***** *** *********** to *** ***:
- ******** **** ****** ** *** **** location **** **** ******* * ****** purchase / ****
- ***** ***** ******* ****+ *** *********** deployments, **** **** ** ******* ** 471
- * ***** ****** ******* *** ********* occurring *** **** ***** ****** ** GovSpend, ** ***** ********* (*.*., ****/****) may ** *******
Motorola ****** ******** ******
** * ********* ** ****, ******** confirmed **** ***** * ******** ****** feature *** *** *** **** ** is ** ** ***-** *****:
******** ********* ****** ******* ***** *********** solutions *** *** *********** ** *********** crimes, ***** ***** *** **** *********** safe. ***** ********* ***** ****** ****** agencies ** ****** *** ******* ***** data. **** ***** *** ***** *** data ***can ***-** ** ***** **** **** ***/** ******* **** **** ***** ****** ****** ********. We build guardrails and controls into our products to allow our users to be compliant with state and local laws, regulations and their own policies. [emphasis *****]
Genetec - ** ********
** * ********* ** ****, ******* stated **** ** *** ***** ******** search ********:
*********, ******* **** *** ***** * national *** ****** ******* ****** *** solution
Flock **** ***** - *** *****, "*******" ******* ******
* ********* ****** **** ********** *** *** "***" ** * button *** ****** *** ******* ** cameras **** ***** ********.
********, ********** *** *********** ******** *** create * "****** *******" ** ******* plates:
************, *** *********** *** **** *** into ***** "****" ** ***** ** "a ***** *** *** ******* ***** has **** ****** **":
Guide "** ****** ****"
** * ******** ** ****, ***** stated *** **** **** ***** ** no ****** **** *** **** *** term "*******" ** ** ****** **** in ***** ********:
***** ** ***, * **** ** point *** **** **** **** ***** is **** **** *** ** ****** used. ******* ** ***** ******** *** guidelines *** *** ** ****, **** been ******* ** ******* ******** **** the ***** **********. *** *******, **** guide ****** ** * ****** *** dogs *** ****, ***** ** *** a ******* ** **** ******* ** years. *** *** ******* ** **** article, * ***** *** ****** **** anything ** **** ******** ** *** current ***** – ** *** ***** to ****** *** ******* ********* *** clarification.
**** ** ***** *** *** *** Flock ********, ****** *** ****** ******** include ******** ********** *** ********** ********. All ***** ******** ******* *** **** to ***** * **** ******/********** ******. This *********** **** ****** ********* *** search ********** ****** ** *****.
** **** ********* ** ****** *** auditing ************ *** *** ***********. ********** law *********** *** ******* ****** ** all ****** ******* *******, ********* *** edits ** ********* ** *** ****. Audits *** ** ********* ** **** that ******’* ******** *** *** ******** conducted ** ******* ******** **** **** the ******** ******’* *******.
** ******* **** ******** ******* ** the **** “*******”, **** ******** ** no ****** **** ** *** ***** materials. ** *** *** ******** ****** you **********, ** ******** ** * search ****** ********** ******* *************.
***** **** **** **** *** **** "curious" ** "*** *** **** ***********" for *** *** ****** ** ****:
**** ** *** *** **** *********** for **** *** ***** ****** *******. Flock ****** ***** ** ******* ********** searches *** *** ******* ** ******* crime.
***** ******** ****'* ******* ** **** an ******* **** *****:
*** ********* *** ****** *** *** law *********** *** **** *** ****** is ******* ** ***** *************.
Incentivizes ***-** **** ******
***** * *** *********** ****** *** not *********** ***** *** *** ** an *** ******** ** ****** **** National ****** ********, ***** ** * clear ********* ** ** **. *********, if ****** ******** ** ***** ***** increases ** * *********, *** *********** will ** **** ****** ** ***-** in ***** ** ****** ***** ****** coverage.
** *** **** ** ***** ******, they **** ********** ********* * ******* of *** *********** ******** ** **** sell ***** ********* (***:*** ***** *** * ***** ****** Department ****** ******** ** ****** ***** Sales). *******, ** ****** *** **** as * ******** **** ** **** are **** ********* ** *** * National ****** *******.
Network ****** ********* ******** ******
*** ******* ** *** *********** ******** and ********** ******** ** *** **** a ******** ******* ** *** **** is ********* ********. ** *** ****, this ***** *** *********** ***** *** reach ** ***** ******* ** ***** down ********* *********. ** *** *****, this ********* *** ***** *** ***** of ********* ***** (***:****** ******* ****** ***** *** ******** to ***** **-****). *** ****** ****** **** **** understanding *** ********* ** **** ********** and ***** ** ** *** (*** if) ** ** **** ** ***** communities.
***** ** ******** * **** ** Canada ***** **** ******** *** ***** what, *** ***** ** ****** *** Officer *** *****. ****** **** ** everything *** ** ****** ** ***** needs ** ** ***** ** ******* identify ** ******* **.
*** * ******* **** ** **** police **** ** ******** ** *** a ******* ****** ********* ******, *** license ***** *********** *****.
**** **** *** '******** ********' ********* in ************* *******.
***'* **** **. ** **** ** set ** ********* ** ** ****** for ***** ** *** ******. * would **** ******* ** ** ******* rife **** *****. **** ****** *** for ** ******* ** ***** ***** significant ***** ** *** ** ***** suspicions **** ****?
** ***** ** *********** ** ***** more ***** ********* **** ***** *** with *** *********** *** ****** **** Oklahoma **** *** **** *** ***** UVED *******.
***** *** *** ******* **** ***** up *** **********. ** ***** ****** departments **** **** **** ***** **** Flock. * **** **** *** ******** I’ve ****** ** **** *** ****** is ** ******* **** ** ******* crimes. * ****** ** ** * pice ** *** ***
*******, ***** ******** **** ***** **** made ** ***** **** **** *** a ****** ** ******** ******** ***** and **** ***’* **** * ******/******** program. ** ******** **, *** *** small ******** ******** ** ******* **** this ******** *****?
****, ** ***** ****** ********** **** rates *** ***** *********?? **** ****** launch ** *************.
**** ******** ********* ******** ********. **** have * ****** *******.
** ***** ****** ********** **** ***** for ***** *********??
**** ********. ** **** *** ****** into **** ***** ** ***'* **** but ** ****.
*** ************ ****** **-***** ********** *** "*** Backbone ** *** *******"
**** **** **** **** ****** **** $250 **** *** ** ******* ****.
**** ***** ***** **** ****:
“*** ** ***** **** ** ********* enforcement ******* *** **********, *** ******** State ****** (***) ** ********* *** total ****** ** ******* **** ********** shootings ******* **% ** **** ******** to ****. *** ****** ** ***-***** injury ********** ********* ** *** ******* area *** *** ** **** *** the ****** ** ********** ********* ********* by **% ******** ** **** ****.”
“***'* ********* *** ** ********** *** had * ****** ****** ** *** ability ** ****** *** ***** ******** activity. ********* ******* ***** ******* (*****) capture * ****** ** ******* ******* plates *** ******* * ****** ** suspected ******* ** ******** ** ** ALPR, ** ***** ** ****** *** law *********** *** ****** **** ** locate *** ***** *** *******.”
* ***'* ***** ****** ** ********* the ***** ** *** **** ** all. ** ********* ***** *** ***** pretty **** ** ** ******'* ** installed *** **** ********. ** **** issue ** **** *** **** ** rules/regs ** *** ** *** ** used ** **.
*** ******* ** *** *********** ******** and ********** ******** ** *** **** a ******** ******* ** *** **** is ********* ********. ** *** ****, this ***** *** *********** ***** *** reach ** ***** ******* ** ***** down ********* *********. ** *** *****, this ********* *** ***** *** ***** of ********* ***** (***:****** ******* ****** ***** *** ******** to ***** **-****). *** ****** ****** **** **** understanding *** ********* ** **** ********** and ***** ** ** *** (*** if) ** ** **** ** ***** communities.
****** ********** ** **** *****:
******** ****** ****** **** ****** ****** supporting ***** ***** ** ******** **. Those **** ***’*… ******.
*** ***** ************ ******* ***** ************. In *** ***** ** ******, ******* are *****.
**** *** *******, **** *** *** itself, ****** *** *** *********** *** abuse. ** ***** * ******* ***** of ***** ** *** ***** ********** as * *******.
******* **** *** **** ** * different ******** ** ***** ** * violation ** **** ***** (*** ****).
*** ****** ** * **** ******** off *** *** ***** *** **+ years, * **** * **** ** the ***** ** ***********. ** **** time, * **** **** *** ******* over *** ****; * *** ******* text **** *********. ******* ** *** from **** **** “***, ** **** the ******** **** ** ****** *** rescue * ********* ** **** *** girl ******* **** ****.” - **** is ***** ****** ****.
* *** ******* **** **** *********. Example ** *** **** **** **** “FYI, ** **** *** ******** **** to ****** *** ****** * ********* 12 **** *** **** ******* **** week.” - **** ** ***** ****** week.
**** *** **** *** * ******** text *** ***** * ****** ***** misused? *** ****** * *** ** that ******** ************ ** ********, **** when ********* ** *** ****** ******* as ********.
******, ** **** * ***** ** train ****** *** **** ** ***** capability. * **** **** ******** ** a *** ***** ** ****** ** the *****. * **** ******** ******** in **** ******** ** ******* ***** logs, **** *********** ** ** *********** of ********* *** ******* **** ** victims.
**, *** * **** *** ********* text ** ***** ******.
* **** *** *** **** ********* on *** ********** ***** ** ***********. But ***** ** ****** *** ******** you *** **** **** ***’* ******* those *********.
* **** ************* **** ** ********** product (***) ***** ****** *** ******* with **** ***** **** ****.
‘*******'* **** ******' ******** ******** ** Flagler ******
******** **** ****** ******* ****** ****** weeks ** *** ******* ***** **.
**’* *** ***** ****** ** ***** the ****** ** ***** **** ******* LPR **** *** * ***** ****** of ************ ******** ******* ** ******** of ***** **** *** *****.
****:
“*** ** ***** **** ** ********* enforcement ******* *** **********, *** ******** State ****** (***) ** ********* *** total ****** ** ******* **** ******** dropped **% ** **** ******** ** 2021. *** ****** ** ********* ******** and ****** ***** ***** ********* ************** in *** ******* **** ******* *** the ****** ** ********** ********** ********* by **% ******** ** **** ****.”
"***'* ********* *** ** ********** *** had * ****** ****** ** *** ability ** ****** *** ***** ********* activity. ********* ******* ***** ******* (*****) capture * ****** ** ******* ******* plates *** ******* * ********* ******** is ******** ** ** ****, ** alert ** ****** *** *** *********** are ****** **** ** ****** *** persecute *** **********.”
*** ** *** ** *** *** not ***** ******** ****** *** **. Not *** *** ******** ** * fantasy **** **** **** *******.
***** *** ** *** ***, *** I ** ****** ******* **** ** a ***** ***** ** ******, *****, Saudi ******, ****, ***.
***** *** **** **** ********* *** eloquent ******** ** ********** ***** ******** for ***:
********* ****** ******** - ******, ******, More
***** *** ********* **-****** ****** *** Ethnic *** ****** *********
**** ***** ******* ** ***** ******** attending ********
*** **** *** **** ***** ********* has ********* ** *** ********** ******* of * ***** * ***** *****, which *** ********* *** ***** *****.
********** ***** ** *** ******* ** protect *** ****** ** ******* ** state ********** ********** **** ********** *********** by ***** ********.
********** ***** ** *** ******* ** protect *** ****** ** ******* ** state ********** ********** **** ********** *********** by ***** ********.
****'* ****** *****. *** **** ****** attention ***** **** *** *****, **** you?
*** ****** **** ** *** **** this *****? "*******'* **** ******* ** ** * ******* ******* why * ****** ********** **New ****** feels the need to share their data with a police department in **********."****** **** ** *** **** **** at *** ********** *** ***** *** are ** ******* ** **...
*** *** ****** ******* *** ******* or ****** **** ******* ****** ******?
**** * **** ********** ** **** this ** ***** ******* ** ******* private ********* ***** **** ********** *** others (*.*., *** *****, *** ********) at * ****** *********** ********* ****** because ********** **** **** **** ****** but *** ******.
*** ***** *** ******** **** *** different ********* *** *** *** **** both ** **** **** **** ******* large ********. ** ****** **** ********* both ***** *** ******** **** ** deploy **** ******* **** **** *** new ****** ******* ***** **** ** build *** * *** ******* ** cameras ** *******.
*** ***** **** ** *** **** new ****** ******* **** ***** * giant **********? ***** * ************ **** have *** *** ****'* ***** ** municipal *********** ** *** **** ****** or ****** ***** ** **** **** can't *** ****** ** ***** ********* because ***** *** ******** ******* ********? It's * ******* *** *** ***** for ******.
**** **** **** ********* *****? *** have ** ***** *** **** ******* of*************.
**** *** **** **** *** **** but **** " ********** **** **** have ****** *** *** ******." *** government *** ******* ** ** **** Flocks ** ********'* ******** **** ***** with *** ******* ** *******. *** you ******* ***** *** **** *******?
*** *** ******* ***** *** **** hotlist?
*** *** **** *******. **** ** not ***** ** *** *** ******* buy ** *** ** ********** (********* entities ***.).
*** ** *********** ************ #* **** above *** **** ** *** ********* to ***** ** ******** **'* ********* to * *** *********** ****** **** has ***** ********. *** **** ******** owned ** * *** *********** ****** can *** *** **** **** ****.
*** *********** ****. **** *** ** able ** *** ** ** * file *** ******** ****** ** *** getting * ****** ********** ** * state ****** ** ****-****** *** **** twice * *** ** *********. *** states **** ********* ** *** *** provider ***** ***** ******** *****. *** that *** **** ** ********** *** it ****** *** *** *** *** vendor **** ******. * ** *** saying ***** *** ******* **** *** the **** *** ********* **, *** as * ********* ****** **** ** against *** *****.
**, **** ******** ** **** ******* are ** * ************ *** ******** to **** *** ********** ******** ************ placed ** **** ** ***** ***'*?
** ** ******* **** ** * good ***** **** **** **** ** safeguards * ********* ***** ** ******* your ****.
****** ******** **********, * ** ***** of ******* ***** *************** *******.
*** **** ***** *** **** ******** to * ***** ***** ******** ********* in * ****** ***********?
** ******** ** **** ** *** states ************ *** *** ** ****. Even ***** ******* *** ****** *** rules **** ****** ** ***** ** facilitate *** **** ** * ********** timeframe. ** *** ****** *****'* **** the ******** ************ **** ** **** shouldn't **** *** ****. *** ************ is **** * ****** ** *********** the **** ** **** ** ***** solution *** ******* ** *** **** parade ***** ** **** ***** ***'* are *** *********** ******* ** *** what ******** *** ********** ** ******* the ****. *** ******* ****** "*" in ** **** *** **** **** through *** *********** ***** *** **** list ** ******** ** ***** ***** account ******* ***** ******. **** ****** then ***** **** **** ****** "*" and **** ******* ** ** ***** other ******** **** **** ***** ******* even ****** ***** *****. * ** sure *** *** ***** ***** ****** I ** ******* **, *** ***** has **** **** ******* ** ** certain ***** ***'* *** ** *********. How ** **** ******* * **** in * ***** **** *****'* **** have ** **** **** ** ***? Things **** **** *** ** *******.
*** **** ***** ****** *** ***** be ******** **. * **** ****** across *** *** ******** ********** *** don't ***** * *** ** ******** on ** ******* ************* ** **, especially **** ****** **** *********** *******.
***** * ****'* **** ** ***** that *** **** **** ***** ** automatically ********** *** **** *** *** access ** *** **** *** ****** it ** ***** ******.
* *** ******** ** *** ** with **** *** **** ***** *** give **** ****** ****** *** ******* PD **** ****** ***** ***** *** NCIC **** ***** ******* **** *** local ** ***** ****** ** ** their *** ******.
*** **** ** *** ********* ** Flock ** ******** **'* ********* ** a *** *********** ****** **** *** those ********.
** ****, * ***** ***** *** following:**** ***** ******** ******* ******* **** various ********* ****** *** **, *** those ******* ****** **********, *********, ***/** locally? *** *******, ** *** *********** in ******* ***** **** ***** **** other ****** *** **** ****** ****?
***** *********:
*** **** **** ** ****** **** each ***** ** *** ***, ** all ****** *** *** **** ********* agencies **** **** **** ****** **** them ** *** ***. ***** *** local ***** *** *** *** ** the ************ **** *** ******* ***.
*** ******* - **** ******* *** the **** *****, ***:*** **** *** ******* ***** ********.
*****'* *** ********** **** ** ***** - **** use *** **** "*********".
***** ****** ********** ********** **** *** National ***** *********** ****** (****), ** provide ****** ** ******** *** ****** officers ** ******* ******* ****** ********** with *********** ********, ******* *******, *** stolen ********.
** ***** * ***** **** ***** is *** ******** ********* **** - functionally ***** ******** *** **** ******* by ********** *** **** ** ******* alerts *** *** ***********.
**'* **** ***** ****** ********** ****** ************* ** **** ** ****** ******** states **** "****** ******" ** *** NCIC ** *******: ****
***** ** ********* ********** ******* ** being ** * ******* ** ****** data. **** ********** ******** **** ** purchase ********* **** ******* ***** ***** LEA ************* *** **. * ********** entity ****** *** ****** ** ******* without ***** ***** **** ** *** local *** *** ***** ***** **********.
**** ***** ****, *** ***** ************* are ******* ***'* **** *** **** to ** ****** ** ******** ******* and **** ***** ***** **** ** their ******** ***** **** *** ***** referenced *** ******* ****** **** ** local ***. ******* ** ****, *** might ** **** ******** * ******* camera **** ** **** ***** **** for ************* ***** ** ***** ** no ******* ** ***** *******.
***** ******** ******** ***** ** ********* with ***** ** ********** **** ***** made ********** ** *** *********** ****** inclusive ** *** ******** ** ** a ************ *****.
*** *** ******* *** **** **** any ****** ** ******* **** ****** from ***** ***** ***. ** ****** to **** ** ** *** ** a **** ******* ***** ** ******** you *** ********** ** * ************ but **** ****** **** ******** ********* to ** **** ** ****** ***** or *** ***'* ******* *** ***** systems ** *** *** ***** *** reads **** ** *** *** ************ who ** ******* ******* * ******.
* ***% ******* **** ******* ****** the **. * *** * ***** program ** *** **** ***** *** an ****** *** *** ***** **** where *** ********** **** ******* ****** the **** ** ******** ** ** the ******** ********. ********* ** ******* as ********** *** ********* ***** **** are ******* ****** *** ******* ** great *********** *** * *** ******** management **** (** **** ** * possible ******* ********* ** *** **** Walsh ***).
**** ********* *** **** ** *** CEO ** ***** (**** & ***** ****** *********** ** Vimeo@ *:**) ***** *** **** ****** by ****** ****** ** **** ********** data *******. ***** **** ************ *** can ** **** ** ****** *** are *** **** ** *** **********.
******* ***** ******* ***. **** ******* I *** ** ******* ** ******** about *** **** ****. *** ******* are *** ** **** ****** ** the **** ***** (*** ********** *** info ** ******** ******* *********** ** March ** **). ** *** ****** the ******** *** ** *** *** list *** ********** *** *** **** can *** **** ***** ********. ** will ** ** **** ** ** can *** **** ** ********* *** state *********** ** *** **** **** don't **** **** ** **** ** a ******. *** *** *** ****** off ** *** **** *** ** is ************* ** * ****** ** suggest **** "**** " *** **** as **** ** ***** *************. ** would ** **** ****** ** *** these ********** ** ********** * **** request ** * ***** *** ***** it ** ** *** *********** ******'* information ** * ************ ****** *******. Do * ***** *** ***'* **** get *** *** ******** ****** **** the **** ** *** ***? *** (as **** ** **** **** ******** requirements). **** ***** **** ***** *** playing ***** *** ***** ******* *** actually ****** *** ***** *** *** list **********..
******** ******* **** *** **** *** lives ** * ***** ***** ***** everybody **** ***** ****.
****, ***** **** *****'* *********** ****** harassment *** *****.
"** **** *** ******** ******** ** Cop **** * ****** *** ****. NOW **'* ** ** ******** *** good! *'** *** *** *** ***** time * *** * ***!"