Sanders introduces bill to bar federal government from using Flock license plate readers

US Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation that would prohibit the federal government from using surveillance technology made by Flock Safety, according to TechCrunch, with the bill's scope extending to automated license plate readers more broadly.

Flock Safety's automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras have been deployed widely across the United States by law enforcement agencies and, increasingly, by federal authorities, raising concerns among privacy advocates and some lawmakers about the scale of vehicle tracking the technology enables.

What the bill targets

According to the report, the proposed legislation would not be limited to Flock's products specifically but would extend to all automatic license plate readers used by the federal government, suggesting a broader effort to restrict this category of surveillance tool rather than singling out a single vendor.

Critics of ALPR systems have argued that the technology allows for the tracking of individuals' movements over time without a warrant, raising concerns about potential misuse and the erosion of privacy protections. Supporters of the technology, including some law enforcement agencies, have said it assists in locating stolen vehicles, finding suspects and solving crimes.

The bill's prospects in Congress were not detailed in the report. Legislation restricting federal surveillance technology has in the past faced a mixed reception, often dividing lawmakers along lines that do not strictly follow party affiliation, given cross-cutting concerns about both privacy and public safety.