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N.Y.P.D. Officers Used Flock Safety to Track License Plates Without a Contract

25 points • by jaredwiener • today at 4:43 PM • 6 comments • view on HN

Comments

gosub100 • today at 7:09 PM

How does their business model work with subpoenas? If the police don't pay to use them, but the camera witnesses a crime, can't they get a judge to order the video because it's evidence in a criminal investigation and/or trial?

What about a civil case? Can an individual get a court order for flock to release evidence that it may have (or definitely has) relevant to a divorce case or other lawsuit?

They evade accusations of constitutional violation because they're a private company. But other private companies have to turn over records all the time (credit card purchases for example).

➕ show 1 reply
kotaKat • today at 6:15 PM

"The department never had a contract with Flock, but the officers used the technology in an ad hoc manner, the police said in a statement. The officers received access to Flock after representatives of the company offered them a free trial, the statement said."

Ah, the good ol' shadow IT method of selling directly to the end users. Good ol' salesman scum.