Drew Harwell
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Articles by Drew Harwell
Cops Left the Force. They Kept Tracking People With Flock Cameras
Police kept access to Flock’s vast surveillance network long after they left the force. Some used it to track romantic partners. When Andrae Wright left his job as an investigator at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office in 2021, he handed in his gun and badge. But he kept something powerful: his log-in credentials for Flock, a police tool he used to search a vast network of roadside cameras tracking the locations of passing cars.
Cops left the force. They kept tracking people with a powerful camera network.
When Andrae Wright left his job as an investigator at the Effingham County Sheriff's Office in 2021, he handed in his gun and badge. But he kept something powerful: his log-in credentials for Flock, a police tool he used to search a vast network of roadside cameras tracking the locations of passing cars.
A Police Search Using Flock Was a Form of ‘Mass Surveillance,’ Judge Rules
A federal judge said that police conducted an “unconstitutional warrantless search” by using Flock cameras to reconstruct a woman’s travels without probable cause. A federal judge in Oklahoma said Thursday that a police search of the license-plate-reader system Flock amounted to “indiscriminate mass surveillance,” adding fuel to a growing debate over whether the controversial policing technology conflicts with Americans’ constitutional rights. The judge, Sara E.
A police search using Flock was a form of ‘mass surveillance,’ judge rules
A police search using Flock was a form of ‘mass surveillance,’ judge rules (washingtonpost.com) A police search using Flock was a form of ‘mass surveillance,’ judge rules By Drew Harwell 2026100223380500 A federal judge in Oklahoma said Thursday that a police search of the license-plate-reader system Flock amounted to "indiscriminate mass surveillance," adding fuel to a growing debate over whether the controversial policing technology conflicts with Americans' constitutional rights.
She helped lead a far-right internet movement. Then it turned on her.
She helped lead a far-right internet movement. Then it turned on her. (washingtonpost.com) She helped lead a far-right internet movement. Then it turned on her. By Drew Harwell 2026092709010500 SARASOTA, Fla. — She'd done everything she thought men expected of women on the far right, so when the hatred came for Amy Dangerfield she felt so depressed she could barely stand.
Five Indianapolis officers charged following The Post’s reporting on Flock misuse
Five Indianapolis officers charged following The Post’s reporting on Flock misuse (washingtonpost.com) Five Indianapolis officers charged following The Post’s reporting on Flock misuse By Douglas MacMillan; Aaron Schaffer; Drew Harwell 2026092323190400 Prosecutors in Marion County, Indiana, criminally charged five Indianapolis police officers Wednesday, accusing them of misusing their access to Flock license-plate-reader cameras.
Five Indianapolis officers charged following The Post’s reporting on Flock misuse
Flock Safety, the firm that has come under pressure from alleged abuse of its cameras, is evaluating selling itself. The company has had preliminary …
Americans have turned against police cameras that track license plates, new survey shows
NATION The cameras have been widely promoted as a crime-fighting breakthrough by private companies such as Flock Drew Harwell, Douglas MacMillan, Aaron Schaffer, Kevin Crowe Reuters Aug. 28, 2026, 9:42 a.m. ET View Comments When Justin Cowgur, a city council member in Centerton, Arkansas, was asked two years ago to vote on a contract to install Flock license-plate readers, he found it easy to say yes.
Americans have turned against police cameras that track license plates, new survey shows
When Justin Cowgur, a city council member in Centerton, Arkansas, was asked two years ago to vote on a contract to install Flock license-plate readers, he found it easy to say yes. The Republican wine seller believed the artificial intelligence-powered cameras — which record passing cars' plates into a database that officers can search to investigate crime — could help ease the strain on their understaffed police force and keep his bedroom community safe.
We found cops who misused Flock. Their police departments didn't know.
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Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
NATION Douglas MacMillan, Aaron Schaffer, Drew Harwell The Washington Post Aug. 19, 2026, 9:34 a.m. ET View Comments Last month, as Indianapolis residents called for tighter restrictions on police surveillance, Police Chief Tanya Terry sought to reassure the public that her officers were using the 301 Flock cameras spread throughout the city solely to investigate crime.
Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
Last month, as Indianapolis residents called for tighter restrictions on police surveillance, Police Chief Tanya Terry sought to reassure the public that her officers were using the 301 Flock cameras spread throughout the city solely to investigate crime.
Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
Last month, as Indianapolis residents called for tighter restrictions on police surveillance, Police Chief Tanya Terry sought to reassure the public that her officers were using the 301 Flock cameras spread throughout the city solely to investigate crime.
Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them. (washingtonpost.com) Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
An investigation by The Post led to the discipline of two officers accused of misusing license-plate readers. Their departments and many others had not done basic oversight. Last month, as Indianapolis residents called for tighter restrictions on police surveillance, Police Chief Tanya Terry sought … The Washington Post - Douglas MacMillan, Aaron Schaffer, Drew Harwell • 3h Read more on washingtonpost.com Polk County (Fla.) Central Florida Indiana Florida Michael Williams
We found cops who misused Flock. Their police departments didn't know.
Last month, as Indianapolis residents called for tighter restrictions on police surveillance, Police Chief Tanya Terry sought to reassure the public that her officers were using the 301 Flock cameras spread throughout the city solely to investigate crime.
Flock unveils changes after Post report on police misuse of its network
The country’s most prominent seller of automated license-plate readers said Thursday it will enact major changes in hopes of more proactively preventing abuse by police officers.
Flock unveils changes after Post report on police misuse of vast camera network
Flock unveils changes after Post report on police misuse of vast camera network (washingtonpost.com) Flock unveils changes after Post report on police misuse of vast camera network By Drew Harwell; Douglas MacMillan; Aaron Schaffer 2026081313010100 The country's most prominent seller of automated license-plate readers said Thursday it will enact major changes in hopes of more proactively preventing abuse by police officers.
How rogue officers turned a nationwide camera network into a tool for stalking Original
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Drew Harwell, Douglas MacMillan and Aaron Schaffer, The Washington Post JEFFERSON, Ga. – Marci Bakely couldn’t understand how her ex-boyfriend always seemed to know where she was. When she went to buy groceries or on a date or to the doctor, he’d text her about it, sometimes within minutes, despite working 15 miles from her home as a police chief in a small town in the Atlanta suburbs.
Man charged with destroying Flock cameras found army of defenders on Facebook
Man charged with destroying Flock cameras found army of defenders on Facebook (washingtonpost.com) Man charged with destroying Flock cameras found army of defenders on Facebook By Drew Harwell 2026080618010900 A West Virginia man charged with cutting down Flock's license-plate-reading cameras has been aggressively defended by a surprising source: a flood of Facebook commenters offering up fake alibis.
Cómo unos agentes corruptos convirtieron una red nacional de cámaras en una herramienta de acoso
Bakely afirma que su exnovio “vigilaba cada uno de mis movimientos” mediante Flock. (Kevin D. Liles/Para The Washington Post) Marci Bakely no podía entender cómo su exnovio siempre parecía saber dónde estaba ella. Cuando ella iba a comprar víveres, a una cita o al médico, él le enviaba mensajes de texto al respecto, a veces en cuestión de minutos, a pesar de trabajar a 24 kilómetros de su casa como jefe de policía en un pequeño pueblo de las afueras de Atlanta.
How one tip exposed a hidden pattern of police surveillance misuse
How one tip exposed a hidden pattern of police surveillance misuse (washingtonpost.com) How one tip exposed a hidden pattern of police surveillance misuse By Drew Harwell; Douglas MacMillan; Aaron Schaffer 2026080412180300 In May, an anonymous tipster suggested we look into the arrest of a former deputy in southern Georgia, who was charged with stalking a woman using a powerful network of roadside cameras known as license plate readers.
How rogue officers turned a nationwide camera network into a tool for stalking
(Mother Flocker / Unsplash) By Drew Harwell, Douglas MacMillan and Aaron Schaffer • Aug 03, 2026 Backed by some of Silicon Valley’s top investors, Flock has rapidly grown into a colossus of American technological surveillance. A leader of the surging industry for license-plate readers, the company told The Washington Post that its more than 120,000 shoebox-size cameras now scan the roads of more than 6,000 communities and record 20 billion plate scans a month.
How rogue officers turned a nationwide camera network into a tool for stalking
JEFFERSON, Ga. - Marci Bakely couldn't understand how her ex-boyfriend always seemed to know where she was. When she went to buy groceries or on a date or to the doctor, he'd text her about it, sometimes within minutes, despite working 15 miles from her home as a police chief in a small town in the Atlanta suburbs.
Rogue officers turn Flock camera network into stalking tool
Rogue officers turn Flock camera network into stalking tool Drew Harwell, Douglas MacMillan and Aaron Schaffer The Washington Post Updated Aug. 2, 2026, 10:21 a.m. ET Jefferson, Ga. — Marci Bakely couldn’t understand how her ex-boyfriend always seemed to know where she was.
The San Diego mosque attack followed a familiar online script
The video begins like many others that erupt into mass violence: a young man in a car, holding a gun. Recorded in the style of a first-person shooter game, the video appears to show the perspective of one of the gunmen who killed three people Monday at the Islamic Center of San Diego as he storms the mosque, opens fire and steps over a fallen body. At the video’s end, the camera records the gunman raising a pistol to his chin, then slumping forward in a torrent of blood.
San Diego mosque attack followed a familiar online script
San Diego mosque attack followed a familiar online script (washingtonpost.com) San Diego mosque attack followed a familiar online script By Drew Harwell 2026052109012900 The video begins like many others that erupt into mass violence: a young man in a car, holding a gun.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy A California billionaire is paying influencers to boost his campaign
Drew Harwell The billionaire Tom Steyer seemed to have piqued the curiosity of online influencer Jason Chu.
Inside Ben Shapiro’s MAGA meltdown
Posted Monday, May 11, 2026 10:05 am The conservative media company Daily Wire was once a star of the MAGA digital universe, dominating social media feeds and podcast apps with a blend of “anti-woke” commentary, viral Facebook posts and culture-war stunts. In the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, the company co-founded by conservative pundit Ben Shapiro ranked as Facebook’s top English-language publisher for three straight months.
How Ben Shapiro's Daily Wire lost its grip on the conservative internet
Drew Harwell The conservative media company Daily Wire was once a star of the MAGA digital universe, dominating social media feeds and podcast apps with a blend of “ anti-woke ” commentary, viral Facebook posts and culture-war stunts. In the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, the company co-founded by conservative pundit Ben Shapiro ranked as Facebook's top English-language publisher for three straight months .
He made a fake ICE deportation tip line. Then a kindergarten teacher called.
Ben Palmer, a stand-up comic in Nashville, has built a following online with his signature style of elaborate deadpan pranks, stumbling his way onto court TV shows and pyramid-scheme calls to poke fun at the latent absurdities of American life. Then in January of last year, he had an idea for a new bit: He’d set up a fake tip line that people could use to report anyone they thought was an undocumented immigrant.
In Trump’s war messaging, veterans see something new — and disturbing
Drew Harwell, (c) 2026 , The Washington Post Fri, May 8, 2026 at 4:18 p.m. UTC 8 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Inside a MAGA influencer’s turn against the right-wing machine
resolution american flag with sign Make America great again (danielfela via Getty Images) Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Few MAGA influencers were as committed to the digital cause as Ashley St. Clair.
Inside a MAGA influencer’s turn against the right-wing machine
Trump’s abrupt U-turn on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz came after backlash from allies Saudi Arabia, a key Gulf ally, suspended the U.S. military’s ability to use its bases and airspace to carry out the operation, sources say. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s abrupt reversal on his plan to help ships go through the Strait of Hormuz came after a key Gulf ally suspended the U.S. …
He sat atop an extremist empire. She thought he needed money.
He sat atop an extremist empire. She thought he needed money. 1 of 7 Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Kristine Kasubienski’s donation appeared on viewers’ screens four hours into the live stream of Nick Fuentes, the far-right influencer she often called her second son. “I pray DAILY for your safety,” she wrote one night last August, sending Fuentes a $50 digital gift.
He spreads hate online — and fans pay him hundreds of thousands of dollars
He spreads hate online — and fans pay him hundreds of thousands of dollars (washingtonpost.com) He spreads hate online — and fans pay him hundreds of thousands of dollars By Drew Harwell; Jeremy B. Merrill 2026042009022300 Kristine Kasubienski's donation appeared on viewers' screens four hours into the live stream of Nick Fuentes, the far-right influencer she often called her second son. "I pray DAILY for your safety," she wrote one night last August, sending Fuentes a $50 digital gift.
Swalwell staffers stand with accusers as Manhattan DA confirms investigation
Swalwell staffers stand with accusers as Manhattan DA confirms investigation (washingtonpost.com) Swalwell staffers stand with accusers as Manhattan DA confirms investigation By Maegan Vazquez; Dan Merica; Drew Harwell 2026041118550400 Senior staff of California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell on Saturday condemned allegations of sexual misconduct against the Democratic congressman as "abhorrent" hours after the Manhattan district attorney's office confirmed it is investigating a sexual...
In Trump’s war messaging, veterans see something new — and disturbing
Military Veterans in Their Seventies Having a Casual Conversation in a Residential Living Room (grandriver via Getty Images) Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. When the retired U.S. Army colonel Joe Buccino first saw White House posts mixing Iran war footage with clips from cartoons and video games, he felt something he had rarely experienced from American military messaging: disgust.
In Trump’s war messaging, veterans see something new — and disturbing
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) When the retired U.S. Army colonel Joe Buccino first saw White House posts mixing Iran war footage with clips from cartoons and video games, he felt something he had rarely experienced from American military messaging: disgust.
In Trump’s war messaging, veterans see something new — and disturbing
In Trump’s war messaging, veterans see something new — and disturbing (washingtonpost.com) In Trump’s war messaging, veterans see something new — and disturbing By Drew Harwell 2026032509013100 When the retired U.S. Army colonel Joe Buccino first saw White House posts mixing Iran war footage with clips from cartoons and video games, he felt something he had rarely experienced from American military messaging: disgust.
Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI.
Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI. 1 of 4 Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The beautiful Army blonde Jessica Foster has posed with an F-22 Raptor fighter jet, donned camouflage in the desert and walked a tarmac with President Donald Trump on the first day of the strikes on Iran.
Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI.
Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI. 1 of 4 Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The beautiful Army blonde Jessica Foster has posed with an F-22 Raptor fighter jet, donned camouflage in the desert and walked a tarmac with President Donald Trump on the first day of the strikes on Iran.
Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI.
The beautiful Army blonde Jessica Foster has posed with an F-22 Raptor fighter jet, donned camouflage in the desert and walked a tarmac with President Donald Trump on the first day of the strikes on Iran. The slew of photos and videos depicting the patriotic life of the MAGA dream girl have led her Instagram account to explode, gaining more than a million followers since she began posting four months ago.
Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI.
Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI. (washingtonpost.com) Thousands have swooned over this MAGA dream girl. She’s made with AI. By Drew Harwell 2026032009021100 The beautiful Army blonde Jessica Foster has posed with an F-22 Raptor fighter jet, donned camouflage in the desert and walked a tarmac with President Donald Trump on the first day of the strikes on Iran.
The White House is transforming the Iran strikes into a meme war
Drew Harwell On Thursday, less than a week after an airstrike killed dozens of children in an Iranian elementary school, and one day after the Pentagon named two of the six American soldiers killed by a drone, the White House posted a video on X blending real-world bombing footage with clips from action movies and video games.
Bettors wagered $54 million on Khamenei’s death. Now they’re not getting paid.
Bettors wagered $54 million on Khamenei’s death. Now they’re not getting paid. (washingtonpost.com) Bettors wagered $54 million on Khamenei’s death. Now they’re not getting paid. By Drew Harwell 2026030414140300 When he learned Saturday about the killing of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Israeli-American business executive in New York was excited to cash in.
Bettors wagered $54 million on Khamenei’s death. Now they’re not getting paid.
Murphy said in an interview he is drafting legislation that would broadly ban prediction-market trades related to government actions, saying they could corrupt public decision-making by allowing military or government officials to profit off secret information. Kalshi heavily promoted the trade to bettors on its homepage and app and in push notifications before Khamenei’s death was publicized.
Netflix backs out of Warner Bros. purchase, clearing a path for Paramount
Netflix backs out of Warner Bros. purchase, clearing a path for Paramount (washingtonpost.com) Netflix backs out of Warner Bros. purchase, clearing a path for Paramount By Scott Nover; Liam Scott; Drew Harwell 2026022623310400 Netflix announced Thursday that it will not raise its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially paving the way for Paramount Skydance to swoop in and buy the company after a tense war between two media mega-corporations.
Netflix backs out of Warner Bros. purchase, clearing a path for Paramount
Critically Acclaimed Author Concludes Best-Selling Series After 34 Years: ‘This Is the Final Installment’ The series originally began in 1992 and amassed a loyal readership in the years that followed. Over three decades since the release of his …
He made a fake ICE deportation tip line. Then a kindergarten teacher called
Ben Palmer, a stand-up comic in Nashville, has built a following online with his signature style of elaborate deadpan pranks, stumbling his way onto court TV shows and pyramid-scheme calls to poke fun at the latent absurdities of American life. Then last January, he had an idea for a new bit: He’d set up a fake tip line that people could use to report anyone they thought was an undocumented immigrant. It was darker than his other stunts, but it felt topical, the kind of challenge he wanted to try.
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