Seth Bodnar, an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Montana, launched a provocative campaign ad Monday, featuring him destroying a Flock Safety surveillance camera. The ad directly targets the company's AI-powered network of automatic license plate readers, which has drawn increasing scrutiny over privacy concerns nationwide.
"Trump says he ‘likes’ Flock cameras. I say ‘Flock off,’" Bodnar stated on social media, sharing a clip of the ad. Bodnar, a U.S. Army veteran and former University of Montana president, framed the destruction of the camera as a stance against the erosion of privacy. He emphasized the pervasive nature of the surveillance, stating, "Getting groceries? They’re watching. Building a new deck? Going to church? Seeing a doctor? They’re watching."
Bodnar's ad arrives amid a growing backlash against Flock Safety. Communities across the country have recently severed ties with the surveillance tech manufacturer. Concerns have been amplified by instances of law enforcement agencies, including state and local bodies, using the technology to assist federal immigration officers.
In response to the mounting criticism, Flock Safety announced changes to its platform last month, including a new tool designed to flag any “abnormal search behavior” by law enforcement, according to The Associated Press. However, Bodnar's ad highlights that former President Donald Trump recently expressed his support for Flock cameras, telling reporters he “sort of” liked the technology despite some people considering it an infringement on privacy.
Bodnar, who is currently trailing Republican nominee Kurt Alme by 8 points in a recent poll, also linked the surveillance camera network to broader concerns about data collection and the push for data centers. "They are all getting rich, and we’re getting screwed, and nobody is holding them accountable,” he asserted before firing a gun at the camera.