ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows [View all]
Source: 404 Media
Data from a license plate-scanning tool that is primarily marketed as a surveillance solution for small towns to combat crimes like car jackings or finding missing people is being used by ICE, according to data reviewed by 404 Media. Local police around the country are performing lookups in Flocks AI-powered automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system for immigration related searches and as part of other ICE investigations, giving federal law enforcement side-door access to a tool that it currently does not have a formal contract for.
The massive trove of lookup data was obtained by researchers who asked to remain anonymous to avoid potential retaliation and shared with 404 Media. It shows more than 4,000 nation and statewide lookups by local and state police done either at the behest of the federal government or as an informal favor to federal law enforcement, or with a potential immigration focus, according to statements from police departments and sheriff offices collected by 404 Media. It shows that, while Flock does not have a contract with ICE, the agency sources data from Flocks cameras by making requests to local law enforcement. The data reviewed by 404 Media was obtained using a public records request from the Danville, Illinois Police Department, and shows the Flock search logs from police departments around the country.
As part of a Flock search, police have to provide a reason they are performing the lookup. In the reason field for searches of Danvilles cameras, officers from across the U.S. wrote immigration, ICE, ICE+ERO, which is ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations, the section that focuses on deportations; illegal immigration, ICE WARRANT, and other immigration-related reasons. Although lookups mentioning ICE occurred across both the Biden and Trump administrations, all of the lookups that explicitly list immigration as their reason were made after Trump was inaugurated, according to the data.
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I can't speak for the company as a whole, but I was unaware that Flock's tools were being used by local departments in collaboration with ICE. I'm disappointed, but not surprised, a Flock source said. 404 Media granted the source anonymity as they were not permitted to speak to the press. It's really important that people understand how this techwhich they pay for with tax dollarsis used, since ultimately it's up to state and local governments to draw the boundaries of fair use by law enforcement.
Read more: https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/
SCOOP: ICE, HSI, and DHS are getting side-door access to the nationwide system of Flock license plate cameras by asking local police to perform lookups for them, new public records show.
ICE does *not* have a contract to use this surveillance tool itself.
www.404media.co/ice-taps-int...
— Jason Koebler (@jasonkoebler.bsky.social) 2025-05-27T13:40:55.844Z