ACLU Dismisses Flock Safety Privacy Reforms as Cosmetic PR

Flock Safety’s proposal includes reducing default data retention periods from 30 days to seven, mandating case numbers for searches, and deploying automated auditing tools. These changes arrive as the company faces a wave of contract cancellations following reports of police officers using the technology to stalk individuals, monitor abortion patients, and target immigrants.

ACLU senior policy counsel Chad Marlow argued that the company’s business model—fueled by nearly $1 billion in venture capital—remains fundamentally incompatible with privacy protection. The civil rights organization specifically warned that an "evidence mode" exception could allow police to indefinitely retain data under the guise of active investigations. Furthermore, the ACLU remains skeptical of search-reason requirements, noting that previous attempts to enforce such protocols were easily bypassed by law enforcement. While Flock Safety maintains that its new proactive lockout and audit features will curb misuse, the ACLU contends that these updates prioritize corporate image over substantive reform.