Sen. Josh Hawley introduces bill aimed at stopping abuse of Flock cameras

Senator Josh Hawley is set to introduce the Stop Flock Abuse Act, a bill designed to regulate artificial intelligence-powered surveillance technology, including Flock cameras. The legislation aims to establish safeguards for these cameras, which are increasingly used by local governments, businesses, and law enforcement agencies.

The bill would restrict local governments from selling or sharing vehicle data collected by the cameras and require agencies to permanently delete driver data within 10 days, unless a criminal investigation is ongoing. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the use of facial recognition technology and require written approval for searches, along with the preservation of an audit log to track them.

Encryption of data and its retention within the United States are also mandated. The bill seeks to prevent unauthorized searches and ensure accountability and oversight. Hawley, a Missouri Republican, has been investigating Flock and other surveillance technology companies, inviting executives to testify at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, although they declined.

The bill comes amid growing concerns over privacy and security issues related to AI-powered cameras, with examples like a Florida woman who was wrongly jailed due to misidentification by Flock cameras.