The New York Police Department has launched a review into hundreds of instances where its officers used a nationwide license plate reader network without a formal departmental contract. This investigation follows a recent disclosure by advocacy groups that showed significant unauthorized use of the system. According to Yahoo News, the NYPD has also implemented new guidelines for officers engaging with outside vendors.
For drivers, this development means a shift in how the NYPD manages its surveillance tools. The department's official position is that it does not have a contract with Flock Safety, the company behind the AI license plate readers in question, nor does it share data with them.
What prompted the NYPD's review?
The review began after two advocacy groups, LatinoJustice and the Surveillance Oversight Technology Project (S.T.O.P.), revealed that NYPD officers accessed Flock Safety's database 1,710 times between March 2023 and December of the same year. This occurred despite the department lacking a contract with the company.
Key findings from the groups' disclosure include:
- 1,710 searches by NYPD officers on Flock Safety's database.
- 614 searches lacked clear explanations for their purpose.
- At least 24 officers were identified as using the system.
Andrew Case, a lawyer for LatinoJustice, expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding the purpose of many searches. Eleni Manis, research director for S.T.O.P., noted that 418 searches were conducted without an officer's name attached, raising questions about who performed them.
What are the new rules for officers?
In response to these revelations, the NYPD enacted new rules in June. These guidelines aim to centralize the process for vendor engagement. Now, any planned meetings with vendors require approval from First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella. The department spokesperson stated these rules were designed to create a single, centralized process for vendor interactions and update ethical guidelines for officers.
This change ends a long-standing practice that allowed officers to pilot new technologies without formal departmental approval. The NYPD had previously informed Flock Safety in October that it was not interested in a contract, partly because the department already uses Vigilant Solutions and has its own license plate reader system. Currently, Flock Safety cameras in New York City are mainly operated by private companies and corporate chains.
Civil rights groups have criticized the widespread use of such surveillance technology, citing privacy concerns. For those interested in understanding how these systems operate and where they are located, FlockDetour provides resources on our /learn page.
The NYPD stated there is no indication officers violated department rules by using the uncontracted system. The department's review of these uses is ongoing, and the exact number of searches already reviewed remains unclear. The advocacy groups have filed a Freedom of Information Law request to obtain more details on the NYPD's use of Flock Safety. The outcome of the NYPD's internal review and the FOIL request will determine the next steps regarding these surveillance practices. The new vendor engagement rules are now in effect, requiring supervisory approval for future interactions.