Fact Check: Flock Safety blocked access to 62 out-of-state agencies seeking data related to abortion or immigration at the request of Alexi Giannoulias.

Fact Check: "Flock Safety blocked access to 62 out-of-state agencies seeking data related to abortion or immigration at the request of Alexi Giannoulias."

What We Know

Recent reports confirm that Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias requested Flock Safety to block access to 62 out-of-state agencies that sought data related to abortion or immigration. This action follows an incident where a suburban Chicago police department allegedly shared license plate data with a Texas sheriff who was investigating a woman who had undergone a self-administered abortion. Giannoulias emphasized the importance of regulating license plate reader technology to prevent misuse for surveillance or tracking individuals seeking lawful medical procedures, especially in light of the recent legal landscape surrounding abortion rights (AP News, 6ABC).

The law that prompted this action was enacted in 2023, prohibiting the distribution of license plate data for tracking women seeking abortions or undocumented immigrants. Giannoulias noted that the Mount Prospect police department had conducted 262 searches related to immigration matters in a short period, indicating a potential violation of this law (ABC News, Statesman).

Analysis

The claim that Flock Safety blocked access to 62 out-of-state agencies at Giannoulias' request is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The AP News article explicitly states that at Giannoulias' request, Flock Safety implemented measures to deny access to these agencies (AP News). This action is part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with Illinois' new law designed to protect individuals seeking abortions and immigrants from surveillance and potential legal repercussions from states with stricter laws (6ABC, ABC News).

The reliability of the sources reporting this information is high. The AP News is a well-established news organization known for its journalistic integrity, and the information has been corroborated by other reputable outlets such as 6ABC and ABC News. These sources provide consistent accounts of the events and the legal context surrounding the use of license plate data in Illinois (6ABC, Statesman).

Moreover, the context surrounding this issue is critical. The law was enacted in response to concerns about the potential misuse of data by states that may seek to prosecute individuals for seeking abortions or for immigration status. This adds a layer of urgency and relevance to Giannoulias' actions and the subsequent blocking of data access by Flock Safety (AP News, ABC News).

Conclusion

The claim that Flock Safety blocked access to 62 out-of-state agencies seeking data related to abortion or immigration at the request of Alexi Giannoulias is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that this action was taken in response to potential violations of Illinois law aimed at protecting individuals from surveillance related to sensitive issues like abortion and immigration.

Fact Check: Flock Safety blocked access to 62 out-of-state agencies seeking data related to abortion or immigration at the request of Alexi Giannoulias.