Learn · Policy
Public records requests for surveillance data
Also known as: FOIA, open records request, sunshine request
How to use state open-records laws to compel disclosure of LPR contracts, retention policies, hot lists, and audit logs.
What you can request
Under most state open-records laws (Oklahoma uses the Oklahoma Open Records Act, 51 O.S. § 24A.1), you can request: the contract between the agency and the LPR vendor; the agency's LPR retention and access policy; aggregate query logs; the current hot list (often redacted); and any inter-agency data-sharing agreements. Federal FOIA covers federal agencies (DEA, ICE, CBP) but not local police.
What works in practice
Be specific, narrow, and cite the statute. Name the system ("Flock Safety Falcon"), the time range, and the exact records ("audit logs of all queries by user X between dates Y and Z"). Agencies routinely deny over-broad requests; specific ones are harder to refuse. If denied, appeal — and publish the denial.