Flock cameras raise privacy concerns after alleged misuse
‘Outnumbered’ debates privacy concerns surrounding Flock surveillance cameras after allegations of misuse by law enforcement, while weighing the technology’s role in solving crimes, locating missing people and protecting public safety.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is broadening his inquiry into potential privacy breaches linked to Flock Safety cameras, extending the focus to three more companies due to worries about how these AI-enhanced surveillance tools manage imagery and data.
Hawley issued a warning to Motorola Solutions Inc., Verkada Inc. and Axon Enterprise Inc. through a series of letters sent on Wednesday.
“On August 26th, I reached out to Flock Safety, sharing my concerns about its extensive network and demanding information following reports of misuse and significant errors stemming from its technology,” Hawley stated in his correspondence with the three companies. “Yet, Flock isn’t the only player in this arena; you and others are constructing large camera networks enhanced by AI, intruding on the privacy of all Americans.”
Hawley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, has publicly expressed his worries that Flock Safety cameras violate individual privacy rights due to the AI systems that monitor Americans’ movements.
“Americans don’t forfeit their privacy rights simply because they are commuting to work, dropping their kids at school, or attending church,” Hawley remarked in a post on X last week. “I’m looking into Flock cameras to uncover WHO has access to the data of hundreds of millions of Americans and what they’re doing with it.”
Hawley requested answers from each company regarding how extensively clients can search vehicle data, the duration for which license plate information is retained, the number of confirmed misuse incidents since 2021, and what measures are in place to guarantee law enforcement officers have valid reasons before accessing this data.
“We received the letter and have initiated contact with Senator Hawley’s office to discuss his requests,” an Axon representative indicated. “We’re eager to showcase our commitment to safety and responsible innovation.”
Various politicians have initiated actions against AI-driven cameras. Notably, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has mandated the removal of all license plate reader cameras from state roadways, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott directing state agencies to cease funding for Flock Safety cameras.
The use of Flock Safety cameras, which leverage AI to automatically track and identify vehicles for local law enforcement, is now under national scrutiny. Many are questioning whether this kind of surveillance should operate without warrants or drivers’ consent.
Currently, around 120,000 Flock Safety cameras are in operation across every state, excluding Alaska.
Last week, Hawley also reached out to Flock Safety, asking for similar information from them.
A Flock Safety spokesperson stated that the company is willing to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The recent pushback against Flock cameras signifies an interesting alignment: both Republicans and more progressive activists are targeting the same issue from contrasting ideological viewpoints. Republicans express concerns about privacy and government overreach, while socialist and communist groups encompass the cameras in a larger campaign against artificial intelligence, policing, immigration enforcement, data center constructions, and labeling the U.S. as a “police state” and “AI surveillance state.”
In the past year, leftist organizations, often funded by tech mogul Neville Roy Singham, have actively campaigned against Flock Safety cameras and against the establishment of data centers. Interestingly, GOP figures, including former President Donald Trump, have been vocal proponents of the construction of data centers.
This May, the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s Denver chapter joined forces with other groups like Indivisible and the Sunrise Movement to hold a forum discussing the “connections between mass surveillance and data centers, arguing that BOTH primarily serve the interests of the wealthy rather than local communities.”
On July 25, members of the Tucson chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation joined with “deFLOCK Tucson” and the “No Desert Data Center Coalition” for an event called “It’s ALL Connected” at the Global Justice Center, raising questions about the commonalities between mass surveillance, data centers, and electric power.
A recent report titled “The Compute War at Home,” commissioned by Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, pointed out that various resources and campaign goals align in a shared ecosystem.
