EFF Finds Flock ALPR Searches Logged With Reasons Like “LOL” and “Sexy”

Police officers across the country have searched Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) databases using explanations such as “LOL,” “LMAO,” “sexy,” and “idk,” according to an analysis by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

“EFF’s analysis of ALPR search logs from the Flock Safety system reveals that police officers across the country are spying on drivers for ‘reasons’ that make no sense at all,” EFF wrote. “Police routinely search databases of flocks without providing a valid reason, making a mockery of our civil liberties by recording reasons such as ‘LOL,’ ‘LMAO,’ ‘sexy,’ and ‘idk,’ to access ALPR’s sensitive location data.”

Flock Safety introduced a revised search system in late 2025 that requires officers to select an offense type from a dropdown menu. However, EFF says the change does not require officers to provide proof that the selected reason matches the actual purpose of a search.

Boston plans to continue using license plate cameras—with restrictions

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city would continue using license plate cameras as long as appropriate safeguards are in place.

“Yes, we need publicly recognized and sanctioned policies to ensure all of these protections, privacy and civil liberties,” Wu said. “Once we have those in place, we should deploy technology that can keep people safe and solve crimes faster.”

According to Boston’s annual report, the city requires vendors to agree not to share license plate reader data unless law enforcement requests that the video be preserved for legal or investigative purposes. Vendors must also agree to delete recordings after 30 days.

“Police have been piloting different versions” of the technology, Wu said. City officials “need to know exactly who has access to that data, how it’s stored, and for how long.”

“This is very helpful for safety in many ways, but it must be used responsibly,” Wu said. “If toggles or access controls cannot be restricted in a manner consistent with that policy, or if they are set but can be unset or reset in a manner that violates that policy, we will not use that platform.”

Cities face growing scrutiny over Flock surveillance systems

As I wrote last month, cities are rapidly retiring Flock over “concerns about uncontrolled surveillance, unwanted data sharing, high costs, and reports of police abuse of the tool.”

However, Flock told Ars at the time that “by 2026, new city partnerships will outnumber non-renewal city partnerships by approximately 10 to 1.”

We reached out to Flock today regarding Boston’s report. We will update this article if we receive a response.