The City of Mountain View discovered unauthorized access to data from its Flock license plate reader cameras by multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies. An internal audit revealed a “nationwide search” setting enabled by Flock Safety without the Mountain View Police Department’s permission, leading to access by agencies including ATF, Air Force bases, and the GSA Office of Inspector General. A statewide search function also allowed unauthorized access by California agencies to data from 29 of the city’s 30 cameras. While the city has since adjusted settings and is reviewing its relationship with Flock Safety, critics argue the vendor’s inherent capabilities pose ongoing privacy risks. Flock Safety maintains that sharing settings are controlled by the agency.