Does Flock Share Data With ICE or Federal Agencies?

Does Flock Share Data With ICE or Federal Agencies?

No, Flock does not have a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or any sub-agencies of the Department of Homeland Security. Flock does not share customer data with any federal agency without a local customer’s explicit choice and control.

Every piece of data collected by Flock license plate readers is owned and controlled by the local customer, whether that customer is a city, county, school district, or private organization. Agencies can share camera access with other police departments on a 1:1 basis, meaning one police department to another police department, by geographic radius (e.g., 10 miles), or statewide. Agencies can also choose to share data nationwide. 

This principle of customer-owned data is foundational to how Flock operates. Decisions about whether, when, and how data is shared are made by the customer that owns it, not by Flock. Back-door access to data and hidden defaults do not exist in Flock technology. If a local agency chooses not to collaborate with any federal entity, including ICE, Flock has no ability to override that decision.

In practice, this means:

• Flock never shares data on its own.
  
  
• All data sharing relationships are explicitly configured and visible to the customer.
  
  
• The customer may limit, revoke, or deny data access at any time. 
  ‍

Local public safety agencies across the country sometimes collaborate with federal partners on serious crimes like human trafficking, child exploitation, or multi-jurisdictional violent crime. Whether to participate in that collaboration is governed by local law, agency policy, and community values, not by Flock.

In some states, the law is very clear. For example, California legislation prohibits federal or out-of-state agencies from accessing publicly funded California license plate readers. In those cases, Flock enforces those restrictions directly in the product. In states without explicit legislation, communities retain the autonomy to decide for themselves.

This approach reflects a broader belief in local control and transparent governance. Technology providers should not be the arbiters of public policy. Instead, vendors should provide tools that enable communities to act within the law while remaining accountable to the people they serve.

For more details on how Flock approaches data sharing, data ownership, and governance, visit our Privacy & Ethics page.

Can ICE access Flock cameras?

ICE cannot directly access Flock cameras or data.

ICE does not have a master login, a hidden pathway, or a centralized feed into Flock systems. Federal agencies, including ICE, cannot “tap into” Flock networks or independently search license plate reader data.

Any access to Flock for federal customers, if it happens at all, must be explicitly granted by a local customer, in accordance with applicable law. Even then, strict limitations apply.

Key safeguards include:

1. No National or Statewide Lookups for Federal Agencies

Federal agencies have been removed entirely from National and State Lookup capabilities. This means they cannot conduct broad or aggregated searches across multiple jurisdictions using Flock.

2. State-Level Restrictions Are Enforced

Federal agencies cannot access data from states such as California or Virginia, regardless of where the agency is based. These restrictions are hard-coded into the platform to honor state sovereignty and legislation.

3. Federal Organization Designation

To ensure transparency, Flock introduced a federal organization designation. Any request originating from a federal agency is clearly labeled in the system. Local officials can immediately see who is requesting access, that the requester is federal, and decide whether to approve or deny the request based on law and policy.

This clarity matters. Collaboration between agencies can save lives in many cases, such as locating victims of human trafficking or identifying child predators. Using Flock technology can help solve these cases 10x faster. Still, those decisions must always remain in the hands of locally accountable leaders.

Flock’s role is not to encourage or discourage collaboration with ICE or any federal entity. Our role is to ensure that customers understand exactly what is being requested and retain full authority over the answer.

You can learn more about how sharing permissions work in our blog “For Real Communities, Public Safety is Not Hypothetical.”

How Does Flock Mitigate Misuse of Its Data?

Mitigating misuse by any entity, local or federal, requires more than policy statements. It requires built-in, always-on safeguards and security practices that make compliance easier and misuse harder.

That’s why Flock has invested heavily in industry-defining guardrails designed to align technology use with legal requirements and community expectations.

Customer-Owned Data and Clear Local Control

First and foremost, misuse is prevented by ownership. Because customers own their data, Flock cannot repurpose, sell, or share it. Access, retention, and collaboration decisions stay local.

Automated Search Filters

One of the most important compliance practices we’ve introduced is search filters, now available to law enforcement customers nationwide.

Search filters act as an automated layer of protection within the Flock search experience that prevents searches tied to LPR use cases prohibited by law or by agency policy:

• Instant Detection: If a user attempts to search for reasons or keywords associated with prohibited topics, such as immigration enforcement or reproductive care, the platform automatically prevents the search from including networks that have the filter enabled.
  
  
• Real-Time Safeguarding: Filtering happens instantly. The platform doesn’t process, store, or log any prohibited queries.
  
  
• Admin-Controlled Enablement:  Because laws and policies differ across jurisdictions, agency admins can now enable search filters in the Flock system. In states with clear state laws prohibiting enforcement related to immigration and/or reproductive care, the filter is applied automatically.
  ‍

These filters are designed to support compliance without adding administrative burden. Instead of relying solely on training or audits, the platform itself helps prevent searches that conflict with the law or agency policy.

Audit Reports and Transparency

Flock also provides built-in audit reports that allow agencies and oversight bodies to review how the system is used. These reports promote accountability and help reinforce public trust by making use patterns visible and reviewable.

As laws evolve across all 50 states, Flock remains committed to updating security practices so communities can continue to use license plate readers responsibly, transparently, and in alignment with local values.

Community Impact on Crime

‍Cities like Oakland, CA, show that Flock’s license plate readers can advance both safety and equity; an outcome explicitly recognized by the Oakland NAACP. In formal public statements, the organization endorsed the continued and expanded use of Flock technology, citing clear evidence of crime reduction and improved accountability without increasing biased enforcement. 

The NAACP emphasized that by focusing investigations on vehicles linked to crimes, not individuals, Flock helps reduce the discretionary stops that have historically and disproportionately impacted Black and Brown residents. 

During Oakland’s pilot deployment, Flock-assisted investigations contributed to dozens of arrests, higher violent crime clearance rates, and progress in homicide and human trafficking cases.

“This approach demonstrates how technology can support safer, fairer outcomes while aligning with the lived realities and priorities of Communities of Color,” said Oakland NAACP President Cynthia Adams. 

Learn More

Flock Safety partners with more than 6,000 communities nationwide to help them make informed, transparent decisions about public safety technology, without compromising privacy, local autonomy, or the rule of law.

If you’d like to learn more about how Flock approaches data ownership, sharing controls, and compliance safeguards, we recommend the following resources:

• Privacy & Ethics
  
  
• How Flock’s Search Filters Work
  
  
• Compliance Overview
  
  
• Security and Safeguards Overview
  
  
• Related blog: For Real Communities, Public Safety is Not Hypothetical
  ‍

Communities are proving every day that when technology and local governance work hand in hand, it’s possible to enhance safety while respecting the values and laws that protect people’s rights.