South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has requested additional information from Flock Safety regarding the company’s privacy and security policies, including its use of artificial intelligence, data access and data retention practices.
In a letter to the company, Wilson said Flock’s public representations about its policies must comply with South Carolina’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, which prohibits deceptive practices.
Flock provides automated license plate recognition technology used by law enforcement agencies across South Carolina and the country. According to Wilson’s letter, the company’s network includes more than 120,000 cameras in 49 states.
The attorney general’s office is seeking clarification on whether Flock uses any form of artificial intelligence to identify vehicles or people. The letter also asks what restrictions Flock places on access to its data and whether the company facilitates sharing information among multiple customers, including government agencies.
Wilson is also requesting details about who may access Flock’s broader network of data and whether the company has mandatory policies governing how long information is retained.
The letter gives Flock 30 days to respond.
Wilson said the inquiry is intended to address the balance between public safety and personal privacy as law enforcement agencies use technology to assist with crime prevention and investigations.
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