A federal judge has ruled that the use of Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems constitutes an unconstitutional warrantless search, amounting to “indiscriminate mass surveillance.” The case involved a driver stopped by law enforcement who then used Flock to track her travel history. The judge found no justifiable reason for the initial search of Flock data, even with drugs found in the vehicle. The ruling emphasizes that ALPR systems create a detailed national surveillance network, allowing police to retrace individuals’ movements without probable cause. This decision highlights significant privacy risks associated with the widespread deployment of ALPR technology and questions its role in generating probable cause for stops and searches, potentially impacting thousands of similar cases.