Pentagon Installs Flock Safety License Plate Readers Amid Security Concerns

The United States Department of Defense installed at least nine Flock Safety automated license plate readers to monitor parking facilities and traffic lanes at the Pentagon. The equipment was acquired through delivery orders under a contract with M.C. Dean Inc., with installation support from subcontractor ThunderCat Technology.

While the Department of Defense intended the system to identify security threats, the deployment drew immediate criticism from lawmakers and cybersecurity experts. Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi previously requested an investigation into the company's security practices, arguing that vulnerabilities in the cameras could allow foreign hackers or spies to track national security officials.

Flock Safety denied these allegations, asserting that its systems have never been hacked. However, neither the company nor the Department of Defense has provided specific details regarding who maintains access to the captured data.