Politicians blast Flock cameras amid US midterm election scrutiny
Politicians including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Michigan nominee Abdul El-Sayed criticized Flock Safety’s always-on license-plate cameras after reports of alleged police misuse of device data, with Flock’s CEO responding on Fourth Amendment concerns.
The startup has come under fire following revelations that police officers allegedly abused their access to the devices’ data to track exes and romantic interests.
License-plate reading cameras could join data centers as a tech bogeyman in the US midterm elections.
A host of politicians — including Sen.
Bernie Sanders and Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan — have this month blasted Flock Safety: The Atlanta-based startup has come under fire following revelations that police officers allegedly abused their access to the devices’ data to track exes and romantic interests, sparking a wider flood of criticism over the company’s always-on cameras.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley has responded to some critical politicians on X: “ We believe in the constitution at Flock,” he said in response to an assertion from Sen.
Rand Paul, R-Ky., that the company is imperiling Fourth Amendment rights.
Earlier this month, it announced guardrails to prevent misuse from law enforcement, and has called for tighter state guidelines.
But expect to see more pressure on candidates to take a stance on the cameras.
President Donald Trump is also reportedly reviewing the issue, amid broader concerns about AI-powered snooping: Several workplaces and organizations have banned Meta’s smart glasses. “It’s just a sort of suffocating atmosphere to be a part of,” a law expert told The Verge.