Cops Search Flock Cameras for Reasons of 'LMAO,' 'IDK,' and 'Asdfg'

The Electronic Frontier Foundation discovered that law enforcement officers across the country have been using Flock's license plate reader surveillance system with frivolous or nonsensical justifications, including searches logged with reasons like "LMAO," "IDK," button mashing, and profanities. The findings reveal a pattern of casual misuse of a powerful surveillance tool by police departments from 2023 through 2025, undermining claims that the technology is used primarily for serious crimes. The discovery raises concerns about accountability and the oversight of automated license plate reader systems deployed nationwide.