Schneier on Security RSS@Schneier_rss@burn.capital

Flock Cameras Can Surveil Cars Without License Plates

This is from a 2024 company presentation:
Officers can also tap into data showing a car’s decals, bumper stickers, back and top rack... schneier.com/blog/archives/202

#identification #Uncategorized #surveillance #geolocation #cellphones #cameras

Schneier on SecurityFlock Cameras Can Surveil Cars Without License Plates - Schneier on SecurityThis is from a 2024 company presentation: Officers can also tap into data showing a car’s decals, bumper stickers, back and top racks—along with temporary and unique state tags. Flock calls it a “Vehicle Fingerprint” and it’s touted as a way for law enforcement officials to get more information “even when you don’t have full plate information,” the company’s presentation shows. The company gives police officers the ability to search that data as well, to “build stronger cases with less information upfront.” That includes being able to locate multiple vehicles law enforcement officials believe are moving together and what Flock calls a “multi geo search.”...
Jul 3, 2026, 12:00 UTCen
monniele@monniele@infosec.exchange

Replying to an earlier post

Relying on vehicle decals and rack configurations for identification raises significant concerns about the reliability of computer vision when environmental factors like lighting or angle degrade accuracy. This approach shifts the burden of proof from immutable license plates to mutable visual attributes, potentially increasing false positives in automated enforcement systems.