Misuse of Flock cameras

Hawley probes misuse of Flock cameras

The investigation comes amid reports of officers allegedly using the cameras to stalk women and the technology leading to false arrests.

Alfred Ng

Sen. Josh Hawley announced he is investigating Flock Safety over concerns that its network of traffic cameras has been misused by police to improperly track people.

A letter Hawley (R-Mo.) sent to Flock Wednesday calls for the company to provide documents and information about police departments misusing its technology, its data retention policies, its surveillance capabilities and its safeguards.

Hawley’s investigation comes amid reports of officers allegedly using the cameras to stalk women and the technology leading to false arrests.

“Your company’s internal policies are, in practice, the only safeguards for hundreds of millions of Americans,” Hawley said in the letter. “People across the country are now discovering that fact and demanding answers from their elected officials.”

Hawley is requesting answers by Sept. 8, according to the letter, which was first reported by Axios.

Flock Safety said it received the letter.

“We will be responding directly to the questions raised and we look forward to working with Senator Hawley and the Subcommittee to provide additional context about how our technology works, the safeguards built into our platform, and how law enforcement agencies use Flock to solve crime and find missing people,” company spokesperson Paris Lewbel said in a statement to POLITICO.