The Data Branch seeks purchasing records from schools, universities and local governments. Its ties to NationGraph raise questions about taxpayer-funded staff work, commercial use and whether agencies recover eligible processing costs.
Ethics & Corruption
Once a Law Enforcement Agency Shares Its Flock Database, Is Control Over Sensitive Information Lost?
A local 30-day deletion setting may not govern Flock search results once other agencies can access them. The article explains the information-security controls officials should require before calling shared surveillance records secure.
Flock Misuse Around Cape Fear Continues: Allegations Lead to Separate Local Investigations
Internal reports at two lower Cape Fear law-enforcement agencies prompted separate Flock investigations, raising questions about how license-plate reader access is monitored in both agencies.
Records Show NHCSO Bought Facial Recognition Tech, While McMahon Said the County’s Flock System Did Not Use It
Purchase records reveal that NHCSO acquired facial-recognition and phone-location tools beyond Flock, raising new questions about New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon.
Flock’s Latest AI Software Moves Mass Surveillance Well Beyond Reading License Plates
Flock’s Nova and OS Investigate move police surveillance beyond license plates, while New Hanover County records reveal the Sheriff’s Office also purchased ShadowDragon identity-tracking technology.
Flock Safety CEO Now Asks for a National Compromise After Compromising Everyone’s Privacy
Flock Safety expanded its plate-reader network before adopting meaningful safeguards. Now its CEO seeks a national compromise as New Hanover County’s sheriff keeps required ALPR audits in-house.
New Hanover County Residents Challenge the Sheriff’s Flock Surveillance Rollout
Residents across the political spectrum challenged New Hanover County’s Flock camera system, raising concerns about privacy, data sharing and public oversight.
DeFlockILM Calls for New Hanover Commissioners to Hold Public Vote on Flock Cameras
DeFlockILM is asking New Hanover County commissioners to pause nationwide data sharing, review the county’s Flock camera program and hold its first public hearing and recorded vote.
“Trust Us” Isn’t Oversight: What Happens When Police Have Unrestricted Flock Access?
Bob Sklar discovered that Indiana law-enforcement officers searched his license plate 63 times through Flock. His case shows why internal audit logs cannot replace enforceable limits and independent oversight.
Flock CEO’s Bold Changes Expose Local Leaders as Slow Learners, but Is Flock’s Move Too Little, Too Late?
Garrett Langley is tightening Flock’s surveillance guardrails while local officials continue to lag behind.
How Did New Hanover County Buy Flock’s Human-Tracking Camera System Without Informing the Public About Its Full Capabilities?
New Hanover County’s Flock system extends beyond license-plate readers. Contracts and public records reveal people-search capabilities, outside access and serious unresolved questions about authorization and oversight.
Flock Safeguards Keep Failing to Prevent Police Misuse
Six Savannah police employees face investigation after an audit found alleged misuse of Flock license-plate data. The case joins a growing pattern across Georgia and the U.S.
Are More Innocent Residents Being Abused? Mooresville’s Flock Safeguards Failed
One officer faces charges and at least 10 others face scrutiny, raising questions about leadership, supervision and police surveillance.
Carolina Beach PD Faces Many Flock Safety Irregularities: Missing Records, Blanket Redactions and 3 Million Flock Searches Demand Answers
Carolina Beach wants public trust in its Flock cameras, but millions of searches, broad data sharing and unanswered legal questions demand scrutiny.
Flock Has Created a New Type of Police Abuse; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Arrested
Police asked the public to trust them with Flock’s surveillance power. Repeated cases of unauthorized access show why that trust is broken.
Mayor Saffo’s Brother Won a $2.45 Million Contract. Why Didn’t the Lowest Bidder Get the Contract?
Mayor Bill Saffo recused himself before Wilmington awarded his brother’s company a $2.45 million bridge contract. Correspondence obtained by WHQR raises new questions about what happened to the lower bidder before it withdrew.
Flock Surveillance Raises Questions About Tracking People in Public
Flock sells subscription access to cameras, cloud storage, and searchable surveillance recordings to police departments and private customers. As its intelligence network expands rapidly across the U.S., residents are asking whether state laws offer enough protection.
VIDEO: Spencer Pratt Says His Fight Against Los Angeles Politics Is Just Beginning
Prat’s campaign may be ending, but he says a new phase is just beginning. Spencer Pratt’s latest video includes claims of recordings, corruption, and future disclosures that have yet to be made public.
New Hanover Democrats Distance Themselves From Convicted Stalker, Wendy Dale, But She’s Staying in the School Board Race
Wendy Dale remains in the NHCS School Board race after past criminal convictions surfaced, raising questions about candidate vetting, transparency and whether elected school officials should face the same background checks as school employees.
Does Pat Bradford Use Campaign Funds to Maintain Her Christian Lifestyle?
New Hanover school board member Pat Bradford directed campaign funds to her church. Does the law allow it, and should voters accept it?