Flock Safety is making several changes to reduce misuse of its camera platform by police and other users, following reports that officers used it to spy on people or stalk former partners. The measures matter because Flock’s automated licence plate reader network has faced sustained criticism over privacy, surveillance and its use in sensitive investigations.

Audit Assistance, which detects unusual search activity and temporarily locks suspicious accounts, will become mandatory; officers must also provide case codes for searches, although administrators can override this. New customers’ data retention will fall from 30 days to one week, with exceptions for longer investigations, while existing customers may keep current approved periods; critics also cite alleged uses involving abortion travel, cannabis purchases and immigration enforcement.