Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has warned law enforcement officers that they could face criminal consequences if they misuse data collected through Flock Safety cameras to track private citizens.

Flock cameras are automated license plate readers that photograph vehicles and record information such as license plates, vehicle characteristics, and locations. Police agencies use the technology to assist criminal investigations, locate stolen vehicles and find missing people, but concerns have grown over how the data can be accessed and shared.

Uthmeier's warning comes as Florida officials move to impose tighter restrictions on the technology. The Florida Department of Transportation has ordered Flock and other automated license plate readers removed from state highway rights-of-way within 30 days, while also halting new permits for the cameras on state roads.

The controversy has intensified following reports of officers using Flock systems for personal purposes. In one recent Florida case, a Brevard County deputy resigned after an internal investigation alleged that he improperly accessed license plate information to track his former girlfriend.

Uthmeier has emphasized that the technology can be useful for legitimate law enforcement purposes, but officers must not use government surveillance tools to pursue private interests or improperly monitor citizens.

The debate over Flock cameras has now spread across Florida, with several law enforcement agencies moving to discontinue their use while others maintain that the systems remain valuable crime-fighting tools.

The issue is expected to receive further attention as Florida lawmakers consider additional safeguards governing how license plate data is collected, stored, accessed, and shared.