Flock Proposal Would Have Turned Uber & Lyft Drivers Into a Massive Mobile ALPR Network

A newly uncovered presentation suggests that Flock Safety explored an ambitious concept that would dramatically expand the reach of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) technology—by leveraging hundreds of thousands of rideshare and delivery drivers as mobile data collectors.

According to reporting by 404 Media, the proposal outlined a plan to use approximately 350,000 Uber, Lyft, and delivery vehicles equipped through a partnership with dashcam provider Nexar to capture license plate data while drivers went about their normal routes. The concept would have transformed everyday gig workers into a vast, constantly moving surveillance network, extending coverage far beyond fixed roadside cameras.

The presentation reportedly dates back to the same period that 404 Media first revealed Flock’s intended partnership with Nexar. The newly surfaced documents indicate the company was actively pitching the concept to prospective customers.

For the repossession industry, the proposal highlights just how rapidly ALPR technology continues to evolve. While many recovery agencies already rely on fixed and mobile license plate recognition systems, expanding data collection through commercial rideshare fleets would significantly increase the volume and geographic reach of vehicle sightings. Such a development would almost certainly intensify ongoing debates surrounding privacy, data ownership, consent, and the role of private companies in collecting location information.

Flock Safety has become one of the most recognizable names in ALPR technology, with its camera network already deployed across thousands of communities nationwide. The company has frequently found itself at the center of discussions over surveillance, law enforcement access, and civil liberties as its technology continues to expand.

Read the Original Investigation

This article is based on reporting by 404 Media.

Original Article: Flock Pitched a Plan to Turn Uber and Lyft Drivers Into Roaming Surveillance Vehicles