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A new analysis by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has revealed that law enforcement agencies across the United States are increasingly deploying automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems — particularly those operated by Atlanta-based Flock Safety — for non-criminal administrative purposes, including school residency verifications and employment background checks, often without warrants.
Flock Safety promotes its nationwide camera network as a vital public safety tool that assists police in solving crimes and locating missing persons. However, the EFF report contends that the technology is being repurposed for routine administrative tasks far removed from urgent law enforcement needs, raising significant privacy concerns.
School Districts Turning to ALPR for Residency Enforcement
According to the report, several school districts have enlisted local police to conduct ALPR searches on vehicles belonging to parents and guardians suspected of falsifying residency information to enroll children outside their designated zones.
In Georgia’s Buford City Schools, which serves roughly 6,000 students, officials authorized more than 375 ALPR queries between January 2025 and March 2026 specifically for residency verification. A district spokesperson defended the practice, stating: “Because Buford City Schools is a highly sought-after district, we experience ongoing challenges with residency fraud. Flock Safety is one of the tools we use to verify residency and protect the integrity of the Buford City School System for families who live within the district.”
In Ohio, the Delhi Township Police Department (DTPD) ran 35 ALPR searches tied to residency verification across five schools during a three-month period in spring 2025. Following an inquiry from the EFF, DTPD said the searches were not used for initial enrollment screening but to investigate suspected false information on forms. The department did not disclose the threshold of suspicion required to justify a search or how many cases were ultimately substantiated.
Broader Privacy Implications
The EFF warned that ALPR systems capture far more than simple location data. “Every time a plate is searched, it can reveal personal information about a family: when they go to the doctor, when they go to worship, when they go out at night, and where they travel on vacation,” the organization said. “None of that is the school district’s business, and these searches represent a huge invasion of privacy.”
The report also documented law enforcement agencies using the Flock database for employment background checks and low-level complaints, such as noise disturbances.
“Law enforcement agencies have moved beyond specific investigations to use these surveillance networks for virtually any whim,” the EFF stated. The group described the trend as “a massive, unchecked mission creep that has turned an alleged ‘crime-fighting’ tool into a universal tracker of everyone’s movements.”
Growing Backlash Against Flock Safety
Flock Safety has faced mounting criticism in recent months over data privacy and potential government overreach. Several cities and counties have begun suspending or terminating contracts with the company as they re-evaluate local surveillance policies.
In February, officials in Santa Clara County, California, moved to discontinue use of Flock cameras while conducting a broader review, citing concerns about possible federal access to the collected data.
The EFF report underscores ongoing debates about balancing public safety benefits of surveillance technology against the erosion of privacy rights in everyday American life.
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