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Representatives Massie and Burlison Introduce 'Flock-Off Act' to Prohibit Federal Funding for Surveillance Technologies

Representatives Massie and Burlison Introduce 'Flock-Off Act' to Prohibit Federal Funding for Surveillance Technologies

U.S. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Eric Burlison (R-MO) have introduced H.R. 10221, known as the 'Flock-Off Act.' This legislation aims to address growing concerns about government surveillance by prohibiting the use of federal funds for the purchase, installation, maintenance, operation, or upgrade of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and biometric surveillance cameras. The move comes amidst increasing scrutiny of companies like Flock Safety, which provides extensive surveillance networks, including drone-based systems capable of automatically launching in response to incidents and collecting vast amounts of data. Critics argue that these technologies, such as Flock's Alpha drone, which can fly at 60 mph and use thermal imaging to read license plates from 2,000 feet, turn public spaces into searchable surveillance networks and can lead to mass data collection on innocent individuals.

New police arrests, firings for Flock misuse after our investigation

New police arrests, firings for Flock misuse after our investigation

At least four more police officers were arrested or fired for alleged misuse of Flock license plate cameras after USA TODAY found troubling patterns.

Rio Rancho Residents Protest City's Use of Flock License Plate Cameras

Rio Rancho Residents Protest City's Use of Flock License Plate Cameras

Residents of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, voiced strong opposition to the city's use of Flock license plate cameras at a recent governing body meeting. Concerns primarily revolve around alleged Fourth Amendment violations and the accuracy of the technology. Speakers, including members of the advocacy group De Flock New Mexico, highlighted the cameras' 93% accuracy rate, arguing that the 7% error margin could lead to a significant number of misreads and potential lawsuits. One resident, Ronald Birkeland, stated that the technology violates the Fourth Amendment rights of citizens. Another resident, Michael Farrell, challenged Mayor Paul Wymer's previous assertion of a 'silent majority' supporting the technology, asking for evidence of this support. City Manager Matt Geisel addressed the public concerns by referring to a detailed presentation on the city's website regarding the license plate reader programs.

Arizona Republic

Tempe aims to be first AZ city to ban automated license plate readers

Tempe aims to be first AZ city to ban automated license plate readers

As backlash against automated license plate readers supplied by Flock Safety grows, Tempe is spearheading efforts to ban the technology.

Armed Man Lunges at Democrat Amy Acton in Ohio, Raising Security Concerns

Armed Man Lunges at Democrat Amy Acton in Ohio, Raising Security Concerns

An armed individual lunged at Democrat Amy Acton during a fair in Canfield, Ohio. The incident has prompted responses from Acton, her Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy, and Governor Mike DeWine. The event highlights growing concerns regarding the safety of political figures and the intensity of political discourse. This incident occurred as another Ohio community decided to discontinue its use of Flock Safety cameras, while Covington, Kentucky, is increasing its investment in law enforcement technology. The details surrounding the armed individual's motivations and the specifics of the lunge were not immediately available, but the event has drawn significant attention to the security measures in place at public political appearances.

Wyoming Communities Debate Use of Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid National Backlash

Wyoming Communities Debate Use of Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid National Backlash

Across Wyoming, communities are engaged in heated debates over the deployment of Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, reflecting a national backlash against pervasive surveillance technology. While some law enforcement agencies, like those in Cheyenne and Jackson, embrace the cameras as vital tools for solving crimes, locating runaways, and tracking stolen vehicles, many residents and some sheriffs express strong concerns about privacy violations and the Fourth Amendment. In Green River, the city council rejected a federal grant for Motorola ALPRs due to public distrust. Conversely, Glenrock police operate five Flock cameras, sparking local furor over oversight and civil liberties. The Laramie County Sheriff's Office has explicitly avoided Flock cameras due to constitutional concerns, despite their use by the Cheyenne Police Department. The technology uses AI to monitor and photograph passing vehicles, uploading data to a central system searchable by participating agencies, though so...

Republicans Introduce 'Flock-Off Act' to Defund Federal Surveillance Camera Networks

Republicans Introduce 'Flock-Off Act' to Defund Federal Surveillance Camera Networks

Two Republican members of Congress, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), have introduced the 'Flock-Off Act' (H.R. 10221). This legislation aims to prevent federal taxpayer dollars from funding extensive surveillance camera networks, such as those operated by Flock Safety, which track vehicles, movements, and biometric information of Americans. The bill specifically targets federal funding used by state and local law enforcement agencies for purchasing, maintaining, or operating automated license-plate readers and other systems that create large databases of citizens' movements. The proposed act would prohibit federal money from supporting cameras capable of identifying vehicle characteristics and biometric surveillance systems, including facial recognition, voiceprints, iris/retinal scans, fingerprints, and gait recognition. It also extends to cloud services storing data from these systems and data-sharing agreements involving such technology. Five additional lawmakers, including Rep. ...

Congressman Burlison Introduces Legislation to Halt Federal Funding for AI Surveillance Technologies

Congressman Burlison Introduces Legislation to Halt Federal Funding for AI Surveillance Technologies

Congressman Eric Burlison, representing Missouri’s seventh congressional district, has co-led the introduction of the Flock-Off Act. This legislation aims to eliminate all federal funding for AI-augmented automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and biometric surveillance cameras. The bill specifically targets the installation, upgrades, and data-sharing arrangements associated with these devices, ensuring they will not be financed by federal taxpayer money. Burlison argues that such mass surveillance tools, exemplified by Flock Safety's Condor cameras, pose a significant threat to American liberty by creating digital dossiers on citizens and inverting the presumption of innocence. He highlights that Flock Safety has already deployed over 120,000 cameras across 49 states, capturing billions of license plates monthly. These advanced cameras, according to Burlison, can track individuals, zoom in on personal devices, and, when combined with facial recognition software, allow authorities to gather extensive per...

Kentucky Lawmakers Consider Stricter Regulations for Automated License Plate Readers

Kentucky Lawmakers Consider Stricter Regulations for Automated License Plate Readers

Kentucky lawmakers are considering updates to a new state law, House Bill 58, which regulates law enforcement's use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary recently discussed the need for more regulations as ALPR technology evolves, addressing privacy concerns. Stakeholders, including Flock Safety, a provider of ALPR technology, participated in the discussion. Kevin Kane, Director of Governmental Affairs for Flock Safety, stated the company was pleased with HB 58 and emphasized that ALPRs are vital for law enforcement but require strong policy and guardrails. He also clarified that Flock Safety does not own, control, or sell collected data and is implementing measures like requiring case codes for data access and providing audit tools for oversight. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Cato Institute advocated for further legislation to prevent mass government surveillance, recommending data deletion within 48 hours instead of the current 90 days an...

Wyoming Communities Divided Over Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid National Backlash

Wyoming Communities Divided Over Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid National Backlash

Communities across Wyoming are experiencing significant debate and division regarding the implementation and use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras, particularly those from Flock Safety. In Glenrock, residents expressed strong concerns about the five Flock cameras operated by the police department, questioning oversight and civil liberties. Green River's City Council voted 6-1 to reject a federal grant for Motorola ALPRs due to public distrust over data storage and Fourth Amendment concerns. Conversely, cities like Cheyenne and Jackson have embraced Flock cameras, with police departments defending them as crucial tools for criminal investigations. Cheyenne police reported 223,424 unique plate reads and 607 'hotlist hits' in 30 days. However, the Laramie County Sheriff's Office has declined to deploy Flock cameras, citing Fourth Amendment concerns due to their AI capabilities and ability to search vehicle characteristics beyond license plates.

Law Enforcement Agencies Conceal Surveillance Tech Use to Avoid Scrutiny and Public Backlash

Law Enforcement Agencies Conceal Surveillance Tech Use to Avoid Scrutiny and Public Backlash

Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are actively concealing their use of surveillance technologies, such as Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), cell-site simulators, and facial recognition, to avoid public scrutiny and negative public relations. Recent reports indicate that police departments are instructing officers not to mention ALPR usage during vehicle stops or in official reports unless absolutely necessary. For example, a county in Iowa's policy for Flock ALPR cameras explicitly states, 'DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE' and 'DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE IN YOUR REPORT OR COMPLAINT UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.' Similarly, Houston police are advised to be 'as vague as permissible' about using Flock systems. This practice of concealment is not new, with historical examples including AT&T's Hemisphere tool and the use of cell-site simulators, where evidence was often 'laundered' through parallel construction or cases were dropped to avoid revealing the technology's use.

Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie Pursues Release of Epstein Files

Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie Pursues Release of Epstein Files

Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie has been actively working to reveal the secrets behind the Jeffrey Epstein files. Massie, known for his iconoclastic approach, has made efforts to bring transparency to the information surrounding Epstein. This initiative is part of a broader focus on accountability within the U.S. political landscape. The push for the release of these files comes amidst ongoing public interest and scrutiny regarding the individuals connected to Epstein. Massie's actions highlight a continued effort by some lawmakers to address issues of transparency and potential misconduct, even as other members of the Kentucky congressional delegation face criticism for their perceived lack of action on various fronts. The pursuit of the Epstein files by Representative Massie underscores a commitment to uncovering details related to the case.