Sen. Josh Hawley Proposes Legislation to Curb Flock Camera Misuse

Senator Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, introduced new legislation on Wednesday designed to regulate the use of automated license plate readers and similar artificial intelligence surveillance tools. The proposed measure, titled the Stop Flock Abuse Act, aims to impose stricter controls on data retention, security protocols, and search functions for technologies like those operated by Flock Safety.

These cameras, widely adopted by local governments, businesses, and law enforcement agencies, capture detailed vehicle information including make, model, and color. However, they have faced increasing criticism regarding privacy violations and security vulnerabilities. Hawley emphasized the need for accountability, stating that without meaningful congressional rules, these AI-powered systems create digital footprints of everyday citizens that threaten individual liberties.

Key provisions of the bill would prohibit local entities from selling or sharing vehicle data collected by the cameras. Additionally, agencies would be mandated to permanently erase driver information within 10 days unless it is directly relevant to an active criminal investigation. The legislation also bans the use of facial recognition technology within these surveillance networks.

To prevent unauthorized access, the act requires written approval for searches and maintains audit logs to track all queries. Furthermore, all data must be encrypted and stored within the United States.

The introduction of the bill follows a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing last week, where Hawley summoned executives from major surveillance firms, including Flock, Axon, Motorola, and Verkada. While Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley submitted a letter outlining existing safeguards, he and representatives from the other companies declined to testify in person. Langley acknowledged in his correspondence that a federal framework was necessary to balance public safety tools with accountability and responsible data practices.

Hawley criticized the executives’ absence, noting the importance of hearing directly from company leadership about their network operations. He stated that the hearing highlighted the potential dangers AI cameras pose to national security and the privacy of American citizens.

The legislation gained emotional support from testimony by Lindsey Isaacs, a Florida woman who was wrongfully imprisoned in solitary confinement after a Flock camera misidentified her Dodge Durango as the vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run. Isaacs described the terror of facing life imprisonment for a crime she did not commit.

Hawley’s initiative is part of a broader legislative effort addressing surveillance overreach. Earlier this month, Senators Raphael Warnock and Katie Britt sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting guidance for state and local governments on preventing misuse of automatic license plate readers. Several analogous bills have also been introduced in the House of Representatives to restrict camera usage or limit federal funding for these tracking systems.