US lawmakers introduce the Ban Flock Act to block surveillance camera use
More moves in the US government to get Flock run out of (every) town, but the legislation has long odds of passing.
The Ban Flock Act has been introduced in Congress, aiming to restrict the use of surveillance camera tracking systems. The legislation covers all automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), not just those produced by Flock. Senators Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley, alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, co-filed the bill, which prohibits federal agencies from acquiring, possessing, accessing, or utilizing these devices.
Exemptions are possible if approved by Congress, such as toll collection, with data retention limited to 48 hours in such cases. The bill operates at the federal level, meaning states and local areas could still fund ALPR systems independently, but central government funding would be eliminated. Private companies and residents' associations can continue using these systems.
The bill's path to becoming law is uncertain, as it must undergo committee, House, and Senate approval, with a slim chance before the end of the current Congress. The Act serves more as a statement of intent and opinion, with similar bills already at the committee stage. Online reactions emphasize the need for stricter regulation or outright bans on ALPRs, with support for more robust privacy protections.
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