Bernie Sanders proposes The Ban Flock Act
Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez want the feds to stop using automated license plate readers.
Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced The Ban Flock Act, aiming to prohibit the federal government from utilizing automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) such as Flock. Flock is a camera surveillance system that captures and processes vehicle information, often utilized by law enforcement. Sanders introduced the bill in Congress on Friday, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) co-sponsoring it.
The proposed law would prevent federal agencies from employing ALPRs and block state and local governments from receiving federal funding for such technology. Sanders expressed concern over Flock's pervasive surveillance, stating that it installs tens of thousands of cameras in communities without consent, tracking people's movements closely and collecting data on various aspects of their lives.
A recent hack of a Flock camera revealed it had photographed over 50,000 vehicles and generated 1.6 million images within three weeks. Sanders also mentioned that Flock has supplied federal immigration authorities with state data and facilitated investigations into activists supporting causes like Palestinian rights and "No Kings" demonstrations.
The act would not only ban federal use of ALPRs but also allow individuals to sue the government if their rights are violated by its use.
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