Progressives unveil legislation cracking down on Flock cameras

Progressive lawmakers on Friday unveiled legislation aimed at curbing government use of automatic license plate readers, a form of mass surveillance deployed on vehicles. The bill, called the Ban Flock Act, was introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Under the proposal, federal agencies would be barred from operating ALPR systems. In addition to that direct prohibition, the bill would withhold federal grant funding from state and local governments that hold contracts for ALPR deployment, using funding incentives to discourage subfederal adoption of the technology. The lawmakers framed the measure as a check on automated tracking tools that collect location data from vehicles. By combining a federal ban with a funding pause for jurisdictions that contract for ALPRs, the bill seeks to limit both federal usage and the broader spread of the technology through grant leverage. The Ban Flock Act adds to a growing set of legislative efforts addressing surveillance technologies. Its sponsors include prominent progressive figures in the House and Senate; the outcome will depend on whether the bill secures broader support in Congress or influences agencies’ and localities’ procurement and use of ALPR systems.