Flock Has a Powerful New AI Tool for Police. We Got Its Code

THE NEWS

What happened

Flock Safety, a major provider of license plate reader cameras to US law enforcement, has developed and deployed a new AI tool called 'OS Investigate.' Unlike its previous systems which only identified wanted vehicles, this new tool can proactively identify drivers and track individuals based on movement patterns without a specific suspect. WIRED obtained the code, revealing 69 pre-written prompts that allow officers to search for witnesses by frequency of appearance in a neighborhood, find associates of a target vehicle, or generate dossiers on individuals with frequent arrest records. The system accesses vast databases including commercial identity records, 911 logs, and case files to convert license plates into names and addresses. Experts warn this represents a significant shift from passive surveillance to active tracking, raising serious constitutional concerns about warrantless access to private movement data.

CONTEXT

Why it matters

BREAKING: Flock Safety has launched 'OS Investigate,' an AI tool allowing police to identify and track individuals based on driving patterns alone. Our analysis of the source code reveals 69 pre-written prompts that search for witnesses by frequency, map associates of target vehicles, and generate dossiers on frequent arrestees. The system accesses commercial identity records, 911 logs, and case files without requiring a specific suspect first. Privacy experts call this a dangerous inversion of surveillance norms.

AT A GLANCE

Key facts

The main verified points:

• Flock Safety's new AI tool, 'OS Investigate,' can identify and track individuals based on driving patterns without needing a specific suspect or warrant.
• The system utilizes over 69 pre-written prompts accessible to officers to search for witnesses, associates, and high-frequency drivers in specific areas.
• WIRED obtained the source code, revealing access to commercial identity records, arrest logs, 911 dispatch data, and social security numbers.
• One prompt explicitly instructs the system to find 'associates' by counting how often other vehicles appear near a target within a two-minute window.
• The tool filters out commercial vehicles like delivery trucks but flags ordinary drivers making similar rounds, raising privacy concerns.
• Flock claims the tool is still in development and separate from their license plate reader technology, contradicting findings that it fundamentally changes their surveillance model.
• Former Rhode Island police officer Noel Pichardo resigned after criticizing the technology, citing its ability to 'literally track people'.