Bernie Sanders Pledges Legislative Action Against Flock’s AI Surveillance Network
Vermont senator commits to introducing a bill targeting Flock Safety's 120,000+ AI cameras, joining a growing bipartisan coalition concerned about mass surveillance technology.
Sanders Launches Surveillance Crackdown
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has committed to introducing federal legislation designed to curtail Flock Safety’s expanding surveillance infrastructure. According to Sanders, the surveillance company operates a network exceeding 120,000 AI-powered cameras deployed across more than 6,000 communities nationwide, collectively capturing and cataloging approximately 20 billion vehicle passages monthly.
Sanders framed the issue in sweeping terms, warning that without aggressive intervention, unchecked surveillance technology threatens to push the United States toward a totalitarian governance model where an entity with overwhelming power monitors and influences citizens’ daily activities, speech, and thought.
Identification Capabilities Raise Privacy Alarm
A central concern driving the legislative push centers on Flock’s image-matching capabilities. The system can cross-reference vehicle and individual photographs captured by its cameras against external databases containing personal information—including phone numbers, family relationships, and court records—enabling potential identification of individuals and their locations. Sanders highlighted how Flock’s reach extends into intimate moments of daily life, capturing residents transporting children to school, visiting medical facilities, or participating in personal activities.
The surveillance platform is backed by prominent technology figures Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel, according to Sanders’ statement on social media.
Bipartisan Resistance Gains Momentum
Sanders’ legislative pledge reflects intensifying opposition that spans the political spectrum. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie has announced plans for a separate bill targeting federal funding for agencies deploying Flock’s systems. Meanwhile, municipalities including Los Angeles and Monroe County, Indiana, have suspended or terminated their contracts with the surveillance company in response to privacy concerns. Activists across numerous states have also engaged in efforts to disable or damage the devices.
Flock Safety, established in 2017 and headquartered in Atlanta, maintains that its cameras do not incorporate facial recognition technology and typically store footage for 30 days. CEO Garrett Langley has suggested that critics’ objections often soften following deeper understanding of the technology’s functions.
Source: Bernie Sanders, via Decrypt. Not financial advice.