A federal judge in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has ruled that a sheriff's deputy violated a woman's Fourth Amendment rights by using Flock Safety technology to search for her license plate without a warrant. This ruling, while not creating a binding precedent, marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate surrounding the use of automated license plate readers by law enforcement, with further coverage provided by TechCrunch.
The judge determined that the deputy lacked probable cause to search the Flock database for the woman's license plate, citing only that her vehicle had a California plate. The court found that the subsequent use of the woman's travel history from Flock to justify a car search, which allegedly led to the discovery of 91 pounds of methamphetamine, constituted evidence obtained as a result of an unconstitutional search. The judge described the warrantless use of Flock as "indiscriminate mass surveillance," capable of passively cataloging individuals' whereabouts over extended periods.
This decision aligns with growing criticism of Flock technology, leading some states like Florida and Texas to cease its use and Senator Bernie Sanders to introduce legislation banning federal agencies from employing such automated license plate readers. Flock's CEO has acknowledged privacy concerns and called for compromise, while the company has reportedly offered employee buyouts amid declining usage.
Source: TechCrunch
