Flock's AI Now Tracks Drivers, Not Just Plates

Flock Safety, a company previously asserting its technology "cannot recognize, identify, or track individuals," has developed an artificial intelligence tool that does precisely that. This new system, OS Investigate, leverages a network of cameras across over 6,000 communities to identify drivers and track vehicles by their movement patterns alone. It can determine potential witnesses by how often their cars frequent an area or identify a driver's associates based on shared camera encounters.

The software integrates with police case files, 911 logs, and commercial identity records, enabling the transformation of license plates into names, home addresses, and relative information. Officers can initiate searches based on physical descriptions within a mapped area. Privacy advocates and legal experts express significant constitutional concerns, highlighting that the tool provides broad, potentially warrantless access to detailed movement records, shifting focus from finding wanted vehicles to casting suspicion on drivers based on their driving habits.

Flock maintains that the product is in early development and its capabilities may evolve. However, the examined prompts suggest a system designed to hand back individuals who fit specific behaviors and locations, even without a plate number, name, or existing crime to investigate. This represents a significant departure from Flock's earlier business model and has fueled debate about the extent of surveillance capabilities available to law enforcement.