Post Finds 50 Officers Misused Camera Network to Stalk Women Across 6,000 Communities
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 2
Post Finds 50 Officers Misused Camera Network to Stalk Women Across 6,000 Communities
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 2
Summary
At least 50 law-enforcement officers were charged or accused of misusing license-plate reader systems for unauthorized surveillance, with 46 cases involving Flock and 26 targeting wives, girlfriends or ex-partners, a Washington Post analysis found.
Roughly 120,000 Flock cameras now scan roads in more than 6,000 communities and log 20 billion plate reads a month, while many departments kept safeguards optional and oversight limited, letting officers search plates without warrants.
In Georgia, former Braselton police chief Michael Steffman allegedly searched plates tied to ex-girlfriend Marci Bakely and her daughter about 600 times; he was arrested in November and died in April before trial.
Victims and advocates said the tracking enabled coercion, threats and fear, while punishment varied widely because only a patchwork of state laws governs plate-reader misuse and many audit logs are hard to access.
Flock said abuse is inevitable but rare among its 140,000 active users and pointed to audit logs and a voluntary monitoring tool, though critics argue mandatory case numbers, stricter audits or warrants are needed.