CHICAGO (WLS) — Concerns are mounting over the utilization of license plate reader technology in Illinois following an order by the secretary of state for a leading operator to cease collaboration with federal agencies.
The operator, Flock Safety, has since suspended its dealings with federal clients. According to the chief legal officer, a miscommunication led to this issue, prompting the company to halt operations with federal agencies temporarily.
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These automated license-plate reading systems use cameras installed on police vehicles and traffic intersections. Their purpose is to scan license plates and identify matches with any outstanding warrants.
However, in a video statement released on Monday, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias alleged that Flock Safety, a privately-owned entity managing these readers, was sharing data with federal authorities unlawfully.
“The company’s leadership was not aware of a pilot program with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection Agency, which placed them in direct violation of Illinois law,” stated Giannoulias.
Secretary Giannoulias explained that this issue emerged from a comprehensive audit initiated in June. His office discovered that Texas police unlawfully used Illinois’ automatic license plate reader data in an attempt to locate a woman concerning an abortion care-related situation.
In a statement, the company said the assertion that Flock was used to prosecute a woman seeking health care in Johnston County, Texas is patently false, stating it was a missing person’s case, not abortion enforcement, and that there were no charges ever filed. They said the sheriff was responding to a request by the family to find their missing family member.
The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office said, included in the search were cameras located in states where abortion is legal, including Illinois, specifically Mount Prospect in suburban Cook County.
Giannoulias asked his office to dig deeper into the data.
“Going through this information has been cumbersome for us. What’s really important is that Illinois know that anyone, that any company that uses our Illinois automatic license plate readers is subject to the same standard, and we will not allow them to break Illinois law,” he said.
Speaking for the first time since the company found itself in the immigration crosshairs, Flock’s chief legal officer Dan Haley said Illinois’ audit discovered what was simply a communication error, in which some individuals were aware of the existence of the pilot program and others were not.
He said, that is something they’ve fixed so it doesn’t happen again.
“We had a limited pilot program with Customs and Border Control. And in order to share any information with those agencies, those agencies have to attest affirmatively that they will not use the information for those purposes,” Haley said.
Oak Park voted to terminate its contract with Flock earlier this month.
Tuesday, following the state’s audit, the city of Evanston did the same, saying in a statement, in part:
“The findings of the Illinois Secretary of State’s audit, combined with Flock’s admission that it failed to establish distinct permissions and protocols to ensure local compliance while running a pilot program with federal users, are deeply troubling. As a result, the City has deactivated the cameras and issued a termination notice to Flock, effective September 26, 2025.”
Flock’s attorney said the company is making changes, adding safeguards, and has stopped sharing data with federal agents through Illinois.
“This was a company that was founded with two objectives, one, to make communities safer, and two, to do so in a way that respects civil liberties. So we hope to get those communities back. We believe we’ve achieved great results for them in terms of making them safer,” Haley said.
The secretary of state says license plate surveillance can play a vital role when used legally to help track down criminals, but, when used inappropriately, the surveillance can be dangerously weaponized.
Giannoulias also told the I-Team other companies in Illinois, like Flock Safety, are subject to the same audits. He would not reveal if there are companies under investigation for similar data sharing
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