Flock surveillance cameras become midterm campaign target as voters balk at tech companies’ power

Automated license plate reader cameras developed by Flock Safety have become a major focal point in congressional and gubernatorial campaigns across the United States. Political candidates from both major parties are increasingly opposing the deployment of the nationwide AI-powered camera network, citing concerns over unconstitutional warrantless mass surveillance and privacy violations. The Atlanta-based company, founded in 2017, reports that its technology operates in six thousand communities across every state except Alaska and has assisted law enforcement in solving approximately one million crimes and locating ten thousand missing individuals. Recent legislative scrutiny, ongoing litigation regarding constitutional rights, and media reports documenting police misuse have fueled public backlash. In response, politicians in states including Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island have proposed statewide bans, funding freezes, or strict transparency mandates. Industry representatives continue to urge critics to evaluate the technology based on verified public safety outcomes rather than misinformation.