Hawley invites Flock, Axon, other surveillance tech CEOs to testify

Sen. Josh Hawley, who leads the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, said Friday that he has invited the chief executives of multiple companies that build AI-enabled surveillance cameras to testify before the panel next week. In a social media post, Hawley listed Flock Safety, Axon, Motorola and Verkada among the firms whose CEOs he asked to appear. The invitations target businesses that supply surveillance and public-safety technology to law enforcement and other customers. Hawley’s subcommittee has jurisdiction over criminal justice and related oversight, and hearings often aim to examine how technologies are used and whether existing rules adequately address risks. By naming several high-profile companies, the move signals a concerted effort by the subcommittee to question industry leaders directly about their products and practices. The outreach follows increased public and regulatory attention on the deployment of AI-powered camera systems and their implications for privacy, civil liberties and policing. Hawley did not provide further details in the post about the precise agenda, witnesses besides the named CEOs, or the specific topics to be covered during the session next week. The companies listed have not been quoted here regarding whether they will accept the invitations.