Wired reconstructs Flock Safety's newer police AI investigation tool already in use
Wired reports that Flock Safety has developed a more advanced police AI investigation system that goes beyond automatic license plate recognition and is already being used by some law enforcement agencies. The outlet says it reconstructed the tool's code to examine how the product works and to assess the scope of its surveillance and investigative capabilities.
Why it matters: A reported expansion of Flock Safety's police-facing AI tooling would deepen the use of algorithmic surveillance in real-world law enforcement workflows, where errors, misuse, and oversight gaps can have direct civil-liberties consequences. It also shows AI product development moving from narrow detection tasks toward broader investigative assistance in a sensitive public-sector setting.
Sources
- Flock Has a Powerful New AI Tool for Police. We Got Its Code Wired · August 19, 2026
Story history
Direct context and developments in this event’s history.
Earlier context
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Flock Safety adds safeguards to AI surveillance tools after backlash
Flock Safety had already added safeguards to its AI surveillance tools after backlash over risks of police abuse, marking a governance response around its deployed law-enforcement technology.