Alpharetta, a prosperous suburb of Atlanta with 67,000 residents, has become a central node in a vast surveillance network. According to public records obtained by WIRED, data from the city's Flock Safety license plate recognition cameras is accessible to more than 2,000 police departments, colleges, airports, and government agencies across the United States.
A Network Without Borders
The range of organizations receiving data from Alpharetta is striking: from Morehouse College and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to Medicare fraud investigators in Illinois and a federal agency's inspector general. In return, Alpharetta receives data from more than 1,300 entities.
The growth of this network has been rapid. Since June 2025, the number of entities receiving data from Alpharetta police grew by approximately 42 percent, while the number of entities sending data grew by about 125 percent.
The Nationwide Lookup Tool and Configuration Errors
One of Flock’s most controversial features is the "Nationwide Lookup" tool, which allows for searches across the entire country. In several instances, such as in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and Palo Alto, California, police departments claimed they were unaware the tool was active, under the impression that searches were limited to their own state.
Flock stated that nationwide lookup was a common default configuration during initial onboarding in the past. However, this lack of clarity has led to misuse. In Alpharetta, an officer resigned on August 5, 2025, following an investigation into the misuse of the technology.
Changes in Flock's Policy
Following a surge in reports regarding officer misuse, Flock recently announced software changes. The company now recommends a 7-day data retention period—down from 30 days—though customers can still pay for extended retention. Additionally, by the end of the year, all customers must activate an Audit Assistance tool that scans for abnormal behavior and automatically suspends access if misuse is detected.
