Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent progressive voice, has joined a growing chorus of lawmakers from both parties criticizing Flock Safety cameras, turning the surveillance technology into a significant issue in the lead-up to the midterm elections. Republicans are divided on the widespread deployment of these license plate-reading cameras, with concerns mounting over potential civil liberties breaches and "Big Brother-style surveillance."
"Oh man, Flock Cameras are terrible. These things are awful," Ocasio-Cortez stated in a recent interview. She expressed worries about living in a "surveillance state" and the potential for data vacuuming by artificial intelligence companies. "I don't even know how they are legal half of the time, the ways that they are going up, the way that they are doing these conferences with these sweetheart contracts with local police departments in a way that's not vetted or transparent," she added.
Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that the ability to move freely without the feeling of being spied upon by a private company is a fundamental aspect of living in a free country. Flock Safety's network has expanded significantly, with 120,000 cameras deployed across 49 states, automatically tracking license plates on passing vehicles. Reports of alleged misuse, fears of tracking related to abortion and immigration, and the potential for federal access have elevated this once-obscure local issue to a national concern.
Candidates from both parties are increasingly using Flock cameras as a campaign issue. In Texas, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico declared, "Flock cameras have no place in Texas." Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat and potential 2028 presidential contender, indicated he would support a statewide ban, a sentiment echoed by his Republican opponent, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who called the cameras an "intrusive invasion of privacy."
In Wisconsin, the issue was central to the gubernatorial race. Democratic nominee David Crowley highlighted his past order limiting Flock camera use in Milwaukee County and pledged to implement strict transparency and accountability laws if elected governor. His Republican opponent, Congressman Tom Tiffany, proposed pausing state funding for Flock cameras and forming a task force to establish stronger privacy protections and safeguards against foreign adversaries.
Michigan Democratic nominee William Lawrence described the cameras as "the most un-American thing I can imagine." His opponent's campaign noted that the incumbent co-sponsors legislation aimed at prohibiting federal agencies from using Flock cameras or similar surveillance technology.
In Florida, where the state administration ordered the removal of automated license plate readers from highway rights-of-way, the Democratic Senate nominee's campaign is selling merchandise critical of the technology.
While calls for bans and restrictions have intensified, some candidates and law enforcement groups have expressed more supportive or nuanced views. President Donald Trump has stated that his administration is studying the issue. A former CIA official expressed concerns about the technology's vulnerability to hacking by adversaries and its potential for pervasive surveillance, noting that while the hardware is currently used primarily for license plate reading, it has the capability for facial and gait recognition when combined with AI.
Discussions within the White House reportedly involve the potential for wider federal adoption of the technology, particularly for law enforcement. Stephen Miller, a top policy adviser, declined to comment on specific access for federal immigration officials but attributed public opposition to the cameras to "the left."
The Department of Homeland Security stated it does not currently have a contract with Flock Safety, and the Secret Service indicated the White House uses its own advanced surveillance capabilities rather than Flock cameras.
Flock Safety, founded in 2017, generates $300 million annually. Its AI-powered cameras document passing vehicles, their license plates, makes, models, colors, and distinguishing features, uploading this data to a searchable police database used for identifying stolen vehicles, tracking missing persons, and generating leads. Opponents cite risks of mass surveillance, police misuse, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the erosion of Fourth Amendment rights, while proponents argue the technology aids in crime reduction. The company has previously partnered with various federal agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and operates in conjunction with Veterans Affairs hospitals and U.S. military bases.