Hill described the system as a "large-scale, dragnet-type surveillance system" that tracks every vehicle indiscriminately. The judge argued that a 1983 legal precedent is inapplicable to the mass surveillance networks of 2026, despite other courts in Oklahoma having previously upheld the practice. The ruling is expected to be contested in circuit court if the government appeals.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Federal Judge Rules Flock Searches Unconstitutional for First Time
US Politics18 days ago
An Oklahoma court order has blocked the use of evidence obtained through a license plate reader after the technology was found to violate the Fourth Amendment. Judge Sara Hill of the Northern District of Oklahoma determined that a warrantless search by the Flock Safety network was unlawful because an officer targeted a driver solely for having a California license plate. This decision marks the first time a federal judge has ruled that such searches are unconstitutional.
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