Chicago, IL – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said this week that U.S. Customs and Border Protection was granted access to Illinois license plate reader data in violation of state law, prompting his office to order the company involved to immediately shut off access.
According to Giannoulias’ office, the discovery came during a recent audit of Flock Safety, the operator of the nation’s largest automated license plate reader system. The audit revealed that Customs and Border Protection gained access to Illinois roadway surveillance through a pilot program run by Flock, despite restrictions enacted under state law two years ago.
“This sharing of license plate data of motorists who drive on Illinois roads is a clear violation of the state law,” Giannoulias said in a statement. “This law, passed two years ago, aimed to strengthen how data is shared and prevent this exact thing from happening.”
The Secretary of State’s office said the audit included a review of 12 Illinois law enforcement agencies that contract with Flock. It found the company lacked adequate safeguards and was unknowingly running a pilot program with Customs and Border Protection. Giannoulias ordered the company to immediately cut off federal access.
Flock Safety has since suspended its pilot programs with Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies nationwide.
Giannoulias also called on Illinois police departments to revisit their agreements with Flock to ensure they comply with the state’s Trust Act, which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities unless a warrant is issued.
The revelation comes just two months after Giannoulias ordered Flock to block out-of-state law enforcement from accessing Illinois license plate data in abortion and immigration investigations.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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