FOLLOW US

A retired San Francisco public school teacher has filed a proposed federal class action lawsuit accusing the city of operating an unlawful mass surveillance system that tracks the movements of everyday drivers in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

The lawsuit, filed Monday by Michael Moore, challenges San Francisco’s use of automated license plate reader technology provided by Flock Safety. Moore alleges the system allows the city to monitor his daily movements, including trips to grocery stores, his children’s schools, and family gatherings, without a warrant or probable cause.

Moore claims the surveillance program functions as a broad, indiscriminate tracking network rather than a targeted law enforcement tool. The complaint describes the system as a “Big Brother” style dragnet that records and stores data on residents who are not suspected of any wrongdoing.

According to the lawsuit, San Francisco operates roughly 450 automated license plate reader cameras throughout the city. Moore alleges the scope of the system raises serious constitutional concerns, particularly when combined with federal surveillance practices.

The complaint also asserts that Flock’s technology relies on a centralized national database that collects more than 1 billion license plate scans each month from more than 5,000 communities across the United States. Moore argues this structure allows law enforcement agencies, including those outside San Francisco, to track residents’ movements across jurisdictions.

The lawsuit contends that the system’s design and data-sharing capabilities expose ordinary drivers to persistent monitoring without meaningful safeguards, oversight, or individualized suspicion.

The case was first reported by the San Francisco Standard.

City officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.