Lawmakers Introduced Legislation to Ban Flock Safety Cameras

The proposed bill would block federal agencies from using or funding the surveillance technology.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Legislative Policy

Lawmakers Introduced Legislation to Ban Flock Safety Cameras

Live Poll

Should the federal government ban the use of automated license plate reader cameras?

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Ban Flock Act. The legislation aims to prohibit federal agencies from using automated license plate readers or accessing data they collect.

Why it matters

The bill seeks to limit the federal government's reliance on private surveillance networks by imposing strict usage bans and conditioning federal grant money on the discontinuation of Flock Safety technology by local entities.

The Ban Flock Act constitutes a formal legislative effort to restrict federal agencies from utilizing automated license plate readers. The proposal mandates that state and local governments must cease using the technology to remain eligible for federal funding.

The players

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

She is a member of the United States House of Representatives representing New York's 14th district.

Bernie Sanders

He is a United States Senator from Vermont who has long advocated for civil liberties and privacy protections.

Jeff Merkley

He is a United States Senator from Oregon known for his focus on government accountability and data privacy issues.

The details

The bill targets the infrastructure provided by Flock Safety, a company specializing in automated license plate recognition cameras. It effectively creates a federal prohibition on accessing data captured by these systems while tying the loss of federal grant eligibility to continued use of the technology by sub-national jurisdictions.

The Ban Flock Act was formally introduced in Congress on October 2, 2026.

Political Context

Opponents of the bill, including privacy surveillance proponents and various law enforcement organizations, argue that such measures would severely hamper public safety efforts and investigations. They contend that restricting the use of automated license plate readers undermines the capabilities of local agencies to deter and solve crimes effectively.

This legislation could significantly impact local public safety budgets by jeopardizing federal grant funding tied to the use of specific camera technologies. Citizens may see changes in how their local law enforcement agencies monitor public spaces if those departments choose to prioritize federal eligibility over existing surveillance systems.

The takeaway

The introduction of the Ban Flock Act marks a significant attempt to establish a federal stance on the use of private surveillance data by government agencies. Readers should watch for future congressional hearings that will likely debate the balance between public safety and digital privacy rights.