Recently, President Donald Trump seemed to express support for a controversial surveillance system that utilizes artificial intelligence. This happened during a press interaction while he was flying on Air Force One.
“I like them [Flock Safety cameras],” he remarked to reporters on Sunday as he was heading to Joint Base Andrews.
The White House did not promptly respond to questions from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
A reporter pointed out that law enforcement officials believe the Flock cameras can be beneficial and asked Trump if he would endorse them. “Yeah, I sort of like them because of that, because of law enforcement,” Trump replied. “But some people don’t; they think it’s an infringement.”
Trump on Flock Cameras: I like them. https://t.co/1rn7ZtzrZ0
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 13, 2026
The reporter emphasized that these cameras help in apprehending many criminals, to which Trump reiterated his approval.
On August 17, Trump had mentioned to a Daily Caller correspondent that he would decide on his stance regarding Flock cameras “over the next couple of weeks.” He noted that the topic is currently under review, pointing out the existence of both advantages and disadvantages.
The Flock cameras can provide personal data about drivers to law enforcement without a warrant via Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), a feature that has drawn bipartisan criticism.
Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri, who leads the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, initiated an investigation into Flock’s data usage on August 26. He cited an incident in Missouri where the St. Charles County Police Department ended its contract after finding that a civilian employee had accessed Flock data for personal reasons.
STOP FLOCK. STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE.
Totalitarianism is when a government or another entity with overwhelming power seeks to know, control and influence everything you do, say and even think. I fear very much that if we don’t act aggressively, that is where we’re heading.…
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 26, 2026
In Milwaukee, it was revealed that a police officer had been charged for repeatedly searching a license plate linked to his girlfriend without proper justification, raising concerns about data misuse.
Senator Bernie Sanders has indicated plans to propose legislation against Flock cameras and AI-driven surveillance systems. Through an online post, he expressed concern over the potential for totalitarianism resulting from such surveillance: “I fear very much that if we don’t act aggressively, that is where we’re heading.”
In response to these surveillance systems, some citizens have taken action themselves. In Winona, Minnesota, for instance, police reported the destruction of several Flock cameras, echoing similar incidents in places like Ohio, Texas, and North Carolina.
