AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Ars Technica, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

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Florida police uncovered more than a dozen unpermitted Flock cameras tracking vehicles on St. Lucie County roads after following a mandate to remove all such devices. Of the 14 cameras found, 11 had no obvious owners, raising concerns about data access. St. Lucie County Commissioner James Clasby stated there is potential for non-law enforcement entities to operate these cameras, and he is not okay with that situation. The Sheriff’s Office claimed three of the devices but refused to explain why they lacked permits and did not immediately respond to questions about accessing recorded data.

This discovery follows a pattern of police misuse in Florida, where officers have tracked individuals hundreds of times for personal reasons. One officer accessed a database 382 times while stalking an ex-girlfriend, while another searched nearly double that number looking for his estranged wife. Two Pinellas County officers were arrested for invasive tracking involving a minor and a woman they wanted to date. Experts warn that safeguards Flock added to prevent such misuse are ineffective.

St. Lucie County residents face privacy concerns as officials give owners 30 days to remove the cameras without asking questions. One camera was already removed after bright red notices were posted. Until the deadline, which could extend to October 20, county spokesperson Erick Gill said staff plan to place plastic bags over remaining cameras to obscure footage. However, resident Ty Grant emphasized that it is imperative for police to identify the owners of these devices.