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Flock makes Audit Assistance mandatory for police customers but offers few details
Surveillance technology company Flock is requiring all law enforcement customers to enable its Audit Assistance tool by the end of the year, saying it has already helped identify abuse. But the company has not fully explained how the tool works.
Flock announced a series of new policies and tools Thursday aimed at curbing abuse of its automated license plate recognition systems and holding its law enforcement customers accountable.
The company now recommends police departments retain data for seven days instead of the previous 30. It also introduced "Evidence Mode" for longer retention in exceptional cases, requiring a specific case number, and customers can limit data sharing based on the type of offense under investigation.
A key change is Audit Assistance, a tool launched in April that Flock says "detects abnormal activity and flags it for Administrator review." If flagged, the tool can automatically lock out users until an administrator intervenes. Flock says more than one-third of customers have turned it on, and it is now mandatory for all customers by the end of the year.
Despite these claims, Flock has not explained how Audit Assistance works in detail, leaving questions about its effectiveness. The company says it has already helped customers spot and stop abuse.