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Investigation: Cops Abusing Camera Network for Stalking
Newser • • nation
Key Points:
- Police technology designed to aid crime fighting, specifically Flock Safety's automated license-plate reader network, has been misused by some law enforcement officers to covertly track individuals, including romantic partners and exes.
- The investigation highlights the case of Marci Bakely from Georgia, whose ex-boyfriend and police chief Michael Steffman secretly monitored her and her daughter's movements around 600 times over a year, leading to his arrest on stalking charges before his suicide.
- At least 50 U.S. officers have been accused of abusing license-plate readers for personal surveillance, with 46 cases involving Flock Safety's system, revealing a broader pattern of misuse within law enforcement.
- Flock Safety maintains that abuse is rare, provides audit tools, and places responsibility on police departments to enforce proper use, while privacy advocates argue that weak oversight and optional safeguards make such misuse almost inevitable.
