Flock, a US surveillance technology company, is introducing tighter safeguards after reports that police officers misused its licence-plate tracking data to stalk and harass former partners. Its chief executive, Garrett Langley, acknowledged that the company had been wrong to leave such controls optional, marking a shift towards taking greater responsibility for how law enforcement uses its systems.

The company will require its Audit Assistance tool, which detects unusual searches and temporarily locks suspicious users out pending review, and will require case codes for searches except in administrator-approved emergencies. Flock will also cut its default data-retention period for automatic licence plate reader records from 30 days to seven, although agencies may extend it or preserve case-linked material through a new Evidence Mode. The changes follow allegations including a Georgia police chief searching an ex-girlfriend’s plate more than 500 times over seven months.