Illinois audit finds Flock let Customs and Border Protection search state plate data

On August 25, 2025, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that an audit of 12 local law enforcement agencies found Flock Safety in violation of state law. The audit found the company lacked proper safeguards on data sharing and had been running a pilot program that gave U.S. Customs and Border Protection access to cameras on Illinois roads. An Illinois law passed two years ago prohibits sharing plate reader data for purposes including investigating immigration status or interfering with reproductive health care. Giannoulias ordered the federal agency’s access to Illinois cameras shut off, and Flock paused its pilot with CBP and other federal agencies nationwide. Flock’s CEO said the company “didn’t create distinct permissions and protocols in the Flock system to ensure local compliance for federal agency users.” A follow-up finding on September 5 named the Forest Park Police Department for sharing data with CBP.