Data obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reveals that police departments and Border Patrol have used Flock’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) network to monitor protests hundreds of times over the past year. Based on over 12 million searches from public records, the data shows law enforcement explicitly listed “protest” or specific events like “No Kings” as the reason for surveillance. This warrantless tracking of protesters’ movements, enabled by a nationwide network of cameras that capture vehicle details, is framed as a significant threat to free speech and democratic values. The searches occurred across multiple states and involved federal, state, and local agencies, highlighting the widespread use of private surveillance infrastructure to monitor First Amendment-protected activities. Critics argue this practice chills dissent and normalizes mass surveillance of the public square.