Flock Safety, the fast‑growing surveillance company that operates a massive network of automated license‑plate‑reading cameras, has disclosed spending more than $2 million on lobbying at both the federal and state levels since 2025. The company’s lobbying push comes as lawmakers from both parties and privacy advocates intensify scrutiny of its expansive data‑collection system.
Federal and state lobbying totals
According to OpenSecrets, Flock spent roughly $1.3 million on federal lobbying between January 2025 and July 2026, and at least another $1 million in statehouses across the United States. The firm employs lobbyists in dozens of states, many of whom are former government employees who have moved through the revolving‑door pipeline.
What the company is trying to achieve
University of North Carolina professor Torin Monahan, co‑editor of the journal Surveillance & Society, says Flock is likely focused on securing long‑term contracts with municipalities and counties while preventing legislation that would require police to obtain a warrant before using its cameras or limit cross‑jurisdiction data sharing. Monahan added that Flock appears to be positioning itself as the dominant provider of license‑plate‑reading services.
Impact on law‑enforcement agencies
Flock’s cameras record license plate numbers and other vehicle characteristics, allowing law‑enforcement agencies in 49 states to search and share data in real time. Police agencies praise the system for locating missing persons and tracking suspects, but privacy advocates warn it enables mass surveillance without a warrant. Since January 2025, more than 120 agencies or jurisdictions have canceled, suspended, or deactivated contracts with Flock, according to a tracker maintained by the activist group DeFlock.
Legislative activity and recent spending
Flock’s 2026 lobbying filings show activity aimed at both chambers of Congress and the White House, covering issues such as homeland security, law enforcement, crime and criminal justice. The company reported $220,000 in federal lobbying between April 1 and June 30 2026, after spending $210,000 in each of the five preceding quarters. In total, federal lobbying expenditures total nearly $1.4 million, including $840,000 in 2025 and $430,000 so far in 2026.
State‑level efforts and disclosure gaps
OpenSecrets identified Flock lobbyists active in 34 states during 2025‑2026, documenting at least $1 million in state‑level spending. However, many states have weak disclosure laws, meaning actual spending is likely higher. For example, in Arizona and Alabama, Flock retained lobbying firms but reported $0 in spendable amounts due to state rules that exclude retainer fees from public disclosure.
Comparison with industry peers
Legacy surveillance firms such as Axon Enterprise and Motorola Solutions have spent considerably more on federal lobbying—over $5 million each since 2024—though their spending is not broken out by specific product lines, making direct comparison difficult.
Key lobbyists with government experience
Five of the seven lobbyists hired by Flock this year are former public servants. Notable hires include Bryan Lanza of Mercury Public Affairs, who served as communications director for President Donald Trump’s first transition team; Jennifer Larkin Lukawski of BGR Group, the inaugural executive director of the Republican Study Committee; and Erskine Wells, a former deputy chief of staff for Sen. Roger Wicker (R‑Miss.).
As the debate over privacy, public safety, and government oversight continues, Flock Safety’s lobbying campaign underscores the growing clash between law‑enforcement technology providers and civil‑liberties advocates.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
