Warnock and Britt Urge DOJ To Curb Misuse Of License-Plate Reader Cameras

More than two dozen Georgia law enforcement personnel — a mix of sworn officers and civilian staff — have recently been accused of improperly accessing and abusing automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras and the data those devices collect. The allegations have prompted bipartisan concern and a direct request for federal action.

The largest ALPR network in the U.S. is operated by Flock Safety, a company founded in Atlanta by Georgia Institute of Technology alumni. Local ties helped make Atlanta an early adopter of the technology; today, Georgia has tens of thousands of ALPR cameras in operation and parts of the city rank among the most heavily surveilled in the country.

Senators Seek DOJ Guidance

On Sept. 21, Democratic Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Republican Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide clear guidance and stronger safeguards to prevent ALPR misuse. The senators asked the DOJ to explain its funding, oversight, training and auditing practices related to ALPR systems when federal dollars are involved.

“There’s nothing more important than feeling safe and secure in your own neighborhood,” Warnock told USA TODAY. “I am deeply concerned about reports of law enforcement officers misusing ALPR systems and using them against Georgians who have done nothing wrong.”

Scope And Numbers

According to the senators' letter reviewed by USA TODAY, Flock cameras support roughly 140,000 monthly active users across all but one U.S. state and provide access to more than 120,000 cameras nationwide. The letter also notes company policy changes: Flock recently shortened its default data retention period from 30 days to 7 days, although records tied to investigations can be retained longer.

The senators identified 20 cases in Georgia where officers were arrested for ALPR misuse and cited approximately 50 officers nationwide who have been charged with or accused of unauthorized searches, in some instances using plate data to stalk or harass civilians.

Questions For The DOJ

Warnock and Britt asked Attorney General Garland to respond by Oct. 21 to a set of specific questions, including:

• How much DOJ funding has been used to buy ALPR systems?
• Does the DOJ monitor grants to prevent misuse of federally funded ALPR systems?
• Does DOJ provide training or best-practice guidance when its funds purchase ALPRs?
• What are DOJ policies governing federal agencies' use of ALPR data?
• Is the DOJ aware of misuse arising from federally funded programs, and what actions does it take?
• Has or will the DOJ audit federal agencies that operate ALPR systems to detect misuse?

Industry Response

The senators' letter arrived a day before Flock Safety published results from an independent penetration test conducted by security firm Bishop Fox. Flock's Chief Information Security Officer, Chris Castaldo, said the company maintains “an advanced cybersecurity program” and sought broad access for the assessment to make it rigorous.

Flock reported no major breaches in the test and said it remediated several minor issues. Founder Garrett Langley described recent arrests of officers for ALPR misuse as “disappointing,” but said prosecutions show the company’s internal audit tools are working and that law enforcement is being held accountable.

Why This Matters

Supporters of ALPRs say the technology helps solve violent crimes and locate missing persons. Critics warn that weak access controls, long retention windows and limited oversight can enable abuse — including stalking and harassment — and erode public trust. The senators’ request to the DOJ aims to clarify federal roles and establish stronger guardrails for the technology’s use.

Reporting by USA TODAY. For more information, contact the author.