Flock surveillance cameras become midterm campaign target as voters balk at tech companies’ power

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Candidates in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida are making waves over Flock cameras, AI-powered surveillance systems that record license plates and vehicle details. Police tout the cameras as indispensable crime fighters, while critics warn of unconstitutional mass surveillance. Flock Safety, the company behind the cameras, claims they have solved over one million crimes and reunited roughly ten thousand missing people with their families.

However, opponents argue the cameras intrude on privacy without proper oversight. Several candidates have called for bans or stricter regulations, with the issue surfacing in gubernatorial races across multiple states.