See If Flock Tracked Your Car

A website named "Have I Been Flocked?" has emerged, allowing individuals to check if their license plate has been searched using Flock's extensive network of over 120,000 license plate readers across the US. This independent initiative has compiled data from more than 241 million searches, covering over 4.6 million license plates. Users can access specific details about why their plate was searched, with common reasons including auto theft and traffic stops. A word cloud on the site highlights prominent search terms such as "drugs" and "burglary."

The project, "Footnote4a," compiles this data from local government audit logs and Freedom of Information Act requests, aiming to shed light on mass surveillance and citizen privacy. While not a complete record of all Flock searches, the database is substantial. The operators emphasize that entered license plate registrations are deleted immediately after a search, and sensitive personal information from logs is redacted. They advocate against mass surveillance and stress that warrants should be required for such data access.