Why Lawmakers Say Stolen Police Logins Are a Major Risk for Flock Cameras
Lawmakers are raising alarms that stolen police logins are exposing Flock surveillance cameras to hackers, potentially giving unauthorized users access to sensitive vehicle tracking data. Flock Safety, known for its network of license plate–scanning cameras across U.S. cities, is now under scrutiny for not mandating multi-factor authentication (MFA) — a basic cybersecurity safeguard that could prevent such breaches. The concern has prompted senators and representatives to call on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Flock’s security practices.
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How Stolen Police Logins Are Exposing Flock Surveillance Cameras to Hackers
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) revealed that hackers and even foreign spies could exploit stolen police logins to access Flock’s vast database. This platform stores billions of images of American license plates collected by taxpayer-funded cameras nationwide. Without mandatory MFA, a single stolen password could allow malicious actors to track vehicle movements or monitor sensitive police investigations.
What Flock Safety Says About the Surveillance Camera Breach
Flock Safety responded to the lawmakers’ claims, stating that it has activated MFA by default for new law enforcement customers and is working to enhance its cybersecurity standards. However, critics argue that simply offering optional MFA is not enough to protect critical surveillance systems used by over 5,000 police departments and private agencies across the U.S. The lack of enforcement leaves a window open for data exploitation and privacy violations.
Could the FTC Investigation Change Surveillance Data Security?
If the FTC takes action, it could set a new precedent for how tech companies handling surveillance data secure their systems. Lawmakers are urging the commission to ensure companies like Flock adopt strict cybersecurity measures, including mandatory MFA and regular breach audits. For now, the case underscores a growing tension between public safety, digital surveillance, and data privacy in an age where stolen logins can expose entire camera networks to hackers.
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