Lawmakers Propose Bill to Ban Federal Funding for Flock Cameras

Republican Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Eric Burlison of Missouri introduced the "Flock-Off Act" on Wednesday, a bill aiming to ban federal funding for Flock cameras.

If enacted, the measure would require federal agencies to remove federally funded systems and state and local recipients to cease operating them within 180 days. Representative Massie clarified the bill would not ban Flock cameras outright but would prevent local governments from using federal funding for their purchase or operation. The bill has five co-sponsors, including Democrat Ro Khanna and Republicans Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar, Chip Roy, and Victoria Spartz.

Flock cameras, a type of automated license plate reader (ALPR) manufactured by Atlanta-based Flock Safety, capture images of passing vehicles, logging license plates, make, model, color, time, and direction. The company's network connects nearly all US states, 49 states, through its agency-controlled system. The technology has faced widespread backlash due to privacy concerns and alleged police abuse.

A Suffolk Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that Massachusetts State Police must disclose the locations of Flock cameras and information on trooper searches, following a lawsuit by the ACLU of Massachusetts. Several officers in Massachusetts are under investigation for alleged misuse, and over two dozen cities and towns have opted out of the technology. The Dallas Police Department is shutting down more than 300 Flock cameras after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to halt funding.

Florida has also banned Flock cameras from state-controlled highways. Flock Safety introduced changes in August, including shorter data retention and automated auditing, after incidents like a Texas deputy searching for a woman who had an abortion and Illinois finding federal immigration agents accessed state data. Andy Parrish, a Wisconsin county board supervisor, highlighted "Master Agreements" that allow cities to bypass local bidding processes for Flock cameras.