Sen. Josh Hawley is unveiling a bill to begin guardrails for surveillance technology like Flock cameras and other artificial intelligence-powered tech.
By Catholics for Catholics
Sen. Josh Hawley is disclosing legislation to begin guardrails for surveillance technology like Flock cameras and other artificial intelligence-powered tech, according to a story by Newsmax.
Labeled the Stop Flock Abuse Act, the bill would standardize automated license plate readers by enforcing stricter limits on data, security and search functions. Such high technology cameras, which have turned into a popular tool among local governments, businesses and law enforcement, can record a vehicle’s make, model and color but have come under increasing inspection over security and privacy concerns.
“AI-powered cameras produced by Flock and its competitors are tracking and creating digital footprints of everyday Americans — a nightmare for individual liberties unless Congress enacts meaningful rules and accountability,” Hawley, a Missouri Republican, said in a statement to CBS News. “That’s why I’m introducing the STOP Flock Abuse Act to establish basic safeguards for AI-powered cameras and protect Americans’ fundamental constitutional rights. Law-abiding Americans should not be treated like criminals.”
The initiative comes after a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing Hawley led last week, where he studied the privacy implications of surveillance technology.
WOAH 🚨 Senator Josh Hawley says that Flock Safety Cameras admitted to him in a private message they are saving images of every American inside their vehicles and they can search those images BY PEOPLE, not license plate
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) September 25, 2026
Hawley says this is a mass surveillance network like we’ve… pic.twitter.com/JCRV89m3Ta
The CEO of Flock Safety refused to testify but sent a written response concurring that Congress should form a federal regulatory framework for the cameras.
Hawley’s bill would limit agencies from selling or sharing vehicle location data with third parties, shielding drivers’ information from freedom-of-information requests and private vendors.
In addition, database searches would need written approval and be logged to prevent unauthorized access. Each search would need to be logged with the officer’s name, stated reason, supervisory approval, and data accessed.
Also, supervisors would be obligated to periodically audit search logs for red flags, including repeated searches of the same individual or suspicious justifications.
Save and Share This Catholic Patriotic Minute!
