Crow's Nest
Monday, October 5, 2026 · The digital civil-liberties brief · View on the web
Hawaii's Department of Law Enforcement plans to deploy roughly 400 license plate readers.
Hawaii's Department of Law Enforcement plans to install roughly 400 automatic license plate readers statewide, chief special investigator Mike Lambert told local outlets, utilizing state transportation infrastructure. (West Hawaii Today)
ANALYSIS Hawaii State Law Enforcement Plans Deployment of 400 License Plate Readers Statewide (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Top
- More cities terminate Flock license plate reader contracts following resident opposition. (Belleville News-Democrat)
- An HSI agent created records on eight ICE observers in Palantir's system. (biometricupdate.com)
- UK ministers prepare rules to bar under-16s from major social media platforms. (reclaimthenet.org)
- DHS tested three walk-through facial recognition systems on pedestrians exiting the country. (biometricupdate.com)
- Judge Alvin Hellerstein refused to dismiss a union lawsuit over federal online speech monitoring. (eff.org)
The pattern
Three counties audited, investigated, or charged officers over unauthorized searches in Flock license-plate databases.
- Surry County audit logs show 102 Flock camera queries for traffic infractions. (mtairynews.com)
- Chesterfield County police investigator Rebekkah Robinson was charged with alleged Flock ALPR misuse. (roanoke.com)
- Oakland County sheriff investigates alleged misuse of Flock license-plate data by former deputy. (CBS News)
Under the radar
- Auburn Councilor Terry Cuddy seeks re-evaluation of an Axon police camera contract. (auburnpub.com)
- EFF and ACLU demanded Marin County Sheriff records over 254,131 plate shares. (eff.org)
Flock watch
Polk County removed Flock surveillance cameras from state rights-of-way (Winter Haven News Chief)
Lynchburg City Council votes to end Flock Safety camera contract (Culpeper Star-Exponent)
Tallahassee Police accessed Flock surveillance database before deploying cameras (eu.tallahassee.com)
Lexington police surrounded home based on Flock match (Spectrum News)
Wisconsin communities ended or suspended Flock camera programs (KDHL Radio)
Surveillance & Privacy
- Dutchess County pulled a bill requiring lawmakers to approve police surveillance contracts. (Mid-Hudson News)
- Sen. Ron Wyden demanded Sightline Intelligence delete aerial tram marketing footage. (KOIN 6 Portland)
- DC Department of Health Care Finance potentially exposed data on 399,086 Medicaid members. (The Daily Hodl)
- State Department requires Mexican TN visa applicants to set social media profiles public. (Latin Times)
Coming Up
Mon Oct 5 · DEADLINE · Charlotte, NC — Bids close for Charlotte's request for proposals for an automatic license plate reader vendor (Hoodline)
Mon Oct 5 · HEARING · South Windsor, CT — South Windsor Town Council holds a public hearing on removing Flock license plate readers (Patch)
Mon Oct 5 · HEARING · Washington, DC — U.S. District Court holds hearing on whether to issue preliminary injunction restoring White House press access for banned outlets (The Gazette)
Mon Oct 5 · MEETING · Caldwell, ID — Caldwell City Council meets and may take up discussion on a proposed Axon automated license plate reader contract (idahonews.com)
Mon Oct 5 · MEETING · Monroe County, MO — Monroe County Sheriff's Office and County Commission hold a public meeting to discuss Flock Safety surveillance cameras (komu.com)
Mon Oct 5 · MEETING · Monroe County, MO — Monroe County Sheriff's Office holds an informational meeting regarding the county's use of Flock surveillance cameras (ABC17NEWS)
Speech & Press
- Appeals court paused Minnesota's ban on AI nudification images in xAI's lawsuit. (CBS News)
- Three California agencies used a pact to conceal environmental data from public disclosure. (KCRA)
- U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly orders the White House to restore press credentials. (RadarOnline)
Useful
Attending a protest — What your phone gives away at a demonstration and how to carry it so it gives away less.
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