Flock Safety Rejects Privacy Opt-Out Request, Cites Customer Data Ownership
Original: I wrote to Flock's privacy contact to opt out of their domestic spying program
Why This Matters
Highlights legal gray areas in surveillance technology and data ownership under privacy laws
Privacy advocate attempts to opt out of Flock Safety's license plate reader surveillance program under California Consumer Privacy Act. Company refuses request, claiming customers own collected data and Flock only processes it as service provider.
California resident Kirk Strauser contacted Flock Safety to delete personal data collected by their license plate reader surveillance systems, invoking CCPA rights. Flock Safety rejected the request, stating they process data as a service provider for customers who own and control the information. The company explained their license plate readers capture publicly visible vehicle characteristics for security purposes, with data retained for 30 days by default. Flock emphasized they don't sell data commercially and only process it per customer instructions. Strauser believes Flock's legal interpretation is incorrect, as they collect and process personally identifiable information directly, potentially making them subject to CCPA obligations regardless of customer relationships.