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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A small-business owner named Tyler Murkerson from Georgia has sued Flock, a license plate recognition company, and the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office over alleged retaliation using automated cameras. His attorneys state the lawsuit alleges illegal license plate tracking searches conducted over many months without probable cause or connection to specific investigations. They claim Flock failed to implement safeguards against illegal surveillance by accepting free-text entries instead of requiring specific case numbers.

Murkerson’s legal troubles began in February 2023 when he was arrested for an alleged seatbelt violation, charges that were dropped months later. While a separate lawsuit regarding excessive force from September 2024 was pending and recently settled, Murkerson alleges his car’s license plate was searched multiple times in the Flock system while deputies followed or monitored him. His attorneys note that deputies entered nonsense rationales during searches, such as "hehehe" on twenty occasions at one department, which documents no actual investigation.

In August 2026, Flock announced it would require case codes for all law enforcement searches by the end of the year to mitigate these issues. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office began an audit of the system that same month, during which three employees had resigned. Chris Hall, one of Murkerson’s attorneys, stated the issue is not just about photographing plates but involves illegal activity and violations of Georgia law and the Fourth Amendment. Flock responded by saying it stands by its technology’s integrity and intends to defend its position in court.