Senator Bernie Sanders, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Jeff Merkley, introduced the "Ban Flock Act" on Friday. The proposed legislation aims to prohibit federal agencies from using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) or accessing data collected by them. It would also restrict federal grant funding to state and local governments that employ the technology.
The bill is a response to growing privacy concerns over mass surveillance capabilities enabled by companies like Flock Safety. Proponents of the act argue that the technology infringes on civil liberties by tracking the movements of citizens without their consent. The move comes amid bipartisan scrutiny of ALPRs, including misuse of the systems by law enforcement and concerns over data privacy.