Flock sends cease-and-desist to DeFlock camera-mapping project

In February 2025, Flock Safety’s lawyers sent Will Freeman, creator of the open-source DeFlock map of automated license-plate readers, a letter demanding he cease and desist all use of the name “DEFLOCK” or any variation and refrain from adopting marks likely to cause dilution or tarnishment of the Flock marks. DeFlock crowdsources the locations of ALPRs from Flock and other companies to publicise the technology’s spread. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, representing Freeman pro bono, rejected the demand, writing that it had no legal basis and that the project sits well within its First Amendment rights, pointing to carve-outs in federal anti-dilution law for noncommercial use and for criticism or commentary on the mark owner. State of Surveillance later reported DeFlock had mapped about 90,000 cameras. No litigation or public cost was reported.