State lawmakers in West Virginia’s Freedom Caucus are seeking to ban AI-powered Flock surveillance cameras statewide, arguing the technology violates citizens’ Fourth Amendment right to privacy.
Concerns Over Government Surveillance
The caucus is calling on all state municipalities to immediately remove automated license plate readers, such as the ones run by the security company Flock Safety.
According to West Virginia Delegate Chris Anders, the Chairman of West Virginia’s Freedom Caucus, ‘The Constitution does not disappear because technology advances.’ The caucus plans on combatting the cameras and surveillance technologies by reintroducing a previously failed legislative measure called the Fourth Amendment Restoration Act.
The bill would prohibit a series of AI-powered surveillance technologies from being used by law enforcement and other agencies in the state. The technologies it would ban include facial recognition software, surveillance drones, license plate readers, and more.
Response from Law Enforcement and Flock Safety
Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell argued that Flock cameras in other states have already helped catch West Virginia suspects. However, Anders and his caucus insist the technology violates the Constitution.
Flock Safety maintained that the company protects personal privacy and claimed to support legislation that sets guardrails for license plate readers.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
