A rare bipartisan pushback is emerging in the US against surveillance cameras manufactured by Flock Safety. Politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties are opposing the company's automated license plate readers (ALPRs), which capture images of vehicle license plates to log car movements for police and security firms.
There are approximately 120,000 Flock cameras operating across the US, performing an estimated 2 billion scans each month. This opposition comes amid reports of police misuse of the cameras, including tracking individuals seeking abortions and stalking ex-partners, and their frequent use by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Public sentiment against ALPRs is growing, with polling showing 46% of Americans oppose their use in their communities, an increase of 13 points from the previous year. This backlash has led to over 100 jurisdictions cancelling their contracts with Flock, according to data from the non-profit Institute for Justice.
Notable political figures are taking action; Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has blocked state agencies from acquiring Flock products, while progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders plans to introduce legislation to restrict their use. Republican Senator Josh Hawley has initiated an investigation into potential privacy abuses by Flock, and Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna is co-sponsoring a bill with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie to prevent federal funds from being used for Flock camera purchases.