FLOCK SAFETY HALTS CBP/ICE ACCESS TO LICENSE-PLATE DATA AFTER ILLINOIS AUDIT; NEW GUARDRAILS BLOCK 'IMMIGRATION' SEARCHES

Flock Safety paused pilot programs with CBP and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations after an Illinois audit showed CBP accessed state license-plate data, raising potential conflicts with a 2023 law limiting use for abortion or immigration probes. The vendor acknowledged unclear permissions and has added flags to identify federal queries, blocked broad nationwide searches, and instituted filters for terms like “immigration,” “abortion,” and “ICE.” Local agencies retain data ownership, but multiple jurisdictions are now tightening sharing rules amid privacy and enforcement concerns.