Editing Main Page (section)

= Onboarding / FAQ =

== What are Flock cameras / ALPR? ==

Automatic license plate readers (ALPR) are cameras and software designed to automatically detect license plates in images and videos. In the case of Flock Safety, these records are then stored in a national database which is searchable by law enforcement and other users, such that the location of that car can be tracked over time. Flock Safety also has a "hotlist" which allows a user to specify a target for a search  and then be notified whenever any camera finds that target -- automatic tracking of individuals.

== Where are ALPR installed? ==

[https://deflock.me DeFlock] has a map showing ALPR worldwide

== How can I add an ALPR to the map? ==

Directly through OpenStreetMap using [https://deflock.me/report DeFlock's instructions] or using the [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.deflock.deflockapp&hl=en&pli=1 DeFlock App] ([https://github.com/FoggedLens/deflock-app APK here])

== I want to help add ALPR to the map, where can I look? ==

As a starting point, check out the [https://alprwatch.org/flock/utilities utilities map] for 811 tickets in your area. These blue circles represent places where Flock Safety wanted to dig a hole or similar to install one of their cameras, so the odds are okay that there is now a camera there.

The utilities data are also available in the [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.deflock.deflockapp&hl=en&pli=1 DeFlock App] ([https://github.com/FoggedLens/deflock-app APK here])

== How can I get involved locally? ==

Consider [https://deflock.me/foia filing a FOIA request], getting in touch with your local city council, and working with people in your community to spread awareness. If you reach out on the [https://discord.gg/aV7v4R3sKT DeFlock Discord] people are glad to direct you to flyers, examples of prior campaigns, and other resources

The [https://ruralprivacy.org/ Rural Privacy Coalition] has some good resources to start with.

== I can write code and want to help ==

Check out our [https://gitlab.com/alprwatch-org/ gitlab] for projects that might interest you. Most projects have open issues which describe how you can contribute.

At the moment the highest value contributions are to the [https://gitlab.com/alprwatch-org/utilities utilities] project, which scrapes 811 tickets to help identify suspected locations for Flock Safety cameras ([https://alprwatch.org/flock/utilities/ MVP map here], or use the [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.deflock.deflockapp&hl=en&pli=1 DeFlock App])

If you are a little ambitious, consider tackling some part of the [https://gitlab.com/alprwatch-org/directions directions] project. This is intended to turn the existing [https://alprwatch.org/directions online directions] MVP ([https://gitlab.com/alprwatch-org/api code is on gitlab]) into an offline-first app that lets you be in control of your data and not need to run your requests through the alprwatch servers. The gitlab page has a detailed project concept so take a look and see what you can do

== I can do data science and want to help ==

Poke around the [https://superset.alprwatch.org/superset/dashboard/muckrock-foia/ FOIA data summarizing audit logs], which links out to the [https://alprwatch.org/pub/flock_search-2025-07-28.csv.bz2 raw data] and [https://gitlab.com/alprwatch-org/foia code for aggregation]. If you want to create custom dashboards for exploration (e.g. [https://superset.alprwatch.org/superset/dashboard/license-plates/ license plates found in audit logs]), reach out to [mailto:alprwatch@proton.me alprwatch@proton.me] and we can set up an account for you.

Alternately check out the [https://haveibeenflocked.com/ Have I Been Flocked?] and [https://eyesonflock.com/ Eyes On Flock] projects for ways to contribute.