New Bill Targets Flock Surveillance As Questions Raised Over Cameras
The bill would require warrants for Flock camera data as scrutiny grows over the company's vast surveillance network.
A Florida congressman has introduced new legislation that would limit the federal government's use of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology, amid growing concerns over the expansive surveillance network operated by Flock Safety.
Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, presented the Facilitating Liberty and Accountability for Flock Observations (FLAFO) Act on September 24. The bill would prohibit federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, or operating ALPR systems without a warrant. It also stipulates that state, local, and tribal police departments would need to adopt privacy rules similar to those in the FLAFO Act to receive certain Justice Department grants.
Steube argued that the Fourth Amendment should not be circumvented, as Americans should not be monitored without individualized suspicion. He expressed concern over the growing use of surveillance technology to track Americans' movements without proper authorization.
Flock Safety, headquartered in Atlanta, dominates the ALPR market with over 80 percent of the systems in use nationwide, according to Steube's office. The company's CEO, Garrett Langley, claimed that the aim of their surveillance network is to ensure public safety, emphasizing transparency and accountability.
The controversy surrounding Flock Safety was heightened by a report from cybersecurity researcher Joshua Michael, who compiled an interactive map showing more than 300,000 Flock-linked surveillance devices across the United States. This map revealed thousands of cameras and supporting equipment, contradicting Flock's earlier claim of operating around 120,000 cameras nationwide.
The controversy also led Doppel, a brand-protection company acting on Flock's behalf, to file a trademark complaint against the website hosting the map, seeking its removal. Despite these efforts, Steube argued that the map serves the public interest by exposing the vast extent of the surveillance network that many Americans are unaware of.
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