Senator Bernie Sanders plans to introduce legislation against Flock Safety's AI surveillance, emphasizing privacy risks and bipartisan support for regulation.
Senator's Plan to Regulate AI Surveillance Technology
Senator Bernie Sanders has declared his intention to introduce legislation aimed at regulating Flock Safety, a company that has deployed a vast network of AI surveillance cameras across the United States. He expressed alarm over the company's practices, emphasizing the risks of unregulated tracking technologies leading to a surveillance state.
In a post on X, Sanders called for an end to such surveillance, stating, "STOP FLOCK. STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE," and warning that these technologies could steer the U.S. toward totalitarianism if not addressed.
Flock Safety claims to operate over 120,000 AI cameras, monitoring an astounding 20 billion vehicles monthly across more than 6,000 communities. Sanders pointed out that these cameras capture a wide variety of everyday activities, from school drop-offs to medical visits, and are capable of cross-referencing images with personal databases, including phone numbers and criminal records.
Bipartisan Support for Surveillance Regulation
Sanders’ initiative aligns with a growing bipartisan movement against Flock's practices. Representative Thomas Massie has proposed legislation to restrict federal funding for agencies utilizing these surveillance systems. Additionally, numerous local governments, including those in Los Angeles and Indiana, have suspended or terminated contracts with Flock due to privacy concerns.
The backlash is further fueled by activists who have vandalized or disabled Flock’s equipment in various states, reflecting widespread apprehension about privacy and surveillance.
“Totalitarianism occurs when a government seeks to control every aspect of our lives. I am deeply concerned that if we do not act decisively, we may be heading in that direction…” — Sen. Bernie Sanders
Founded in 2017, Flock contends that its cameras do not utilize facial recognition technology and retains footage for up to 30 days. CEO Garrett Langley has suggested that public concerns diminish once they understand that the primary focus is vehicle imaging, though he previously faced backlash for referring to anti-Flock activists in derogatory terms.
In a recent interview, Langley urged Americans to consider safety a priority over privacy concerns as Flock expands its surveillance capabilities, including partnerships with Uber drivers and enhanced monitoring tools for law enforcement. While Sanders has not yet revealed a timeline for his proposed legislation, his commitment signals a mounting concern over the implications of surveillance technologies in daily life.
