Federal judge rules Flock camera searches unconstitutional

A federal judge in Oklahoma has ruled that a law enforcement officer violated a woman's Fourth Amendment rights by searching her vehicle's history through Flock Safety's license-plate reader network without obtaining a warrant first.

The decision, which was issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Hill, marks one of the most significant legal challenges to Flock's expanding surveillance system. 

The ruling does not establish a nationwide legal precedent, but it could give momentum to growing concerns over how police departments use automated license-plate databases to track people's movements.

The case began when a Tulsa County sheriff's deputy searched Flock's database for a California-registered vehicle. 

According to the court, the deputy had no clear investigative justification for running the plate other than the fact that the vehicle was from California.