Sen. Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, announced a new federal proposal called the Stop Flock Abuse Act. The legislation targets the rapid expansion of AI‑enhanced Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras operated by companies such as Flock Safety, Axon Enterprise, and Motorola Solutions.

Why the bill is needed

Critics argue that Congress and regulatory agencies have not kept pace with AI advances over the past decade. They say private firms now conduct surveillance that could violate constitutional rights if performed by the federal government. Hawley warned that AI‑powered cameras are creating digital footprints of everyday Americans, describing the situation as a “nightmare for individual liberties” without clear rules and accountability.

Key provisions of the Stop Flock Abuse Act

• Prohibits local governments from selling or sharing ALPR data with non‑governmental third parties.
• Requires a written approval process for each search, with agencies logging every request.
• Mandates regular audits of those logs to prevent “rogue” searches, such as documented cases where police or other Flock clients used databases to stalk or harass individuals.
• Limits data retention: agencies must permanently delete driver data after ten days unless it is essential to an active criminal investigation.
• Bans the use of facial‑recognition technology on ALPR networks. While Flock currently allows searches of images based on visible elements (shirt color, glasses, etc.), it does not permit biometric templates.

Current industry practices and company response

Flock Safety does not maintain a consolidated count of confirmed customer misuse, according to a recent letter to Hawley. The company currently lets clients store data for as long as they choose. In August, Flock updated its privacy and accountability safeguards, stating the changes reflect “years of work and deliberation” and that the company will continue listening and improving its standards.

Flock has also applied for a patent that could enable tracking of individuals and searching for specific persons in its database, raising further concerns among privacy advocates.

Scope of ALPR deployment

Independent mapping projects, such as Finding Flock, have identified at least 138,000 ALPR cameras across the United States as of September 2026. Approximately 120,000 of those cameras belong to Flock Safety, highlighting the company’s dominant presence in the market.

Legislative outlook

The bill would require federal and local agencies to adopt stricter oversight and data‑deletion rules, aiming to protect law‑abiding Americans from being treated like criminals. Hawley emphasized that the legislation seeks to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights while still allowing legitimate law‑enforcement use.

Flock Safety declined to comment on whether it supports the Stop Flock Abuse Act. The company’s August statement reiterated its commitment to safety and privacy, acknowledging that its safeguards are a work in progress.

What’s next?

The Stop Flock Abuse Act will now move to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. If passed, it could set a national standard for how AI‑enhanced surveillance technology is deployed and monitored, balancing public safety needs with the protection of individual liberty.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.