Lawmakers have introduced new bills to stop federal agencies from using Flock cameras, citing reporting by 404 Media as a key reason for the action.
On Friday, Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senator Jeff Merkley unveiled the Ban Flock Act. The proposal would ban federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and cut off state and local funding for those that do. It would also allow Americans to sue the government for rights violations caused by ALPRs.
“At a time of growing concern about the unchecked power of artificial intelligence, Flock is eviscerating the very notion of privacy by installing tens of thousands of cameras in communities across America without their consent,” Sanders said in the announcement posted to his website. “Going to the doctor? Flock knows. Dropping your kid off at school? Flock is tracking you. Flock is always watching. We cannot allow America to become a surveillance state where a handful of AI oligarchs profit by giving the government the power to track our every movement.”
Ocasio-Cortez added, “AI-powered cameras are keeping track of our every move and weaponizing this data against working people to make record profits. The widespread integration of this technology into American society is unconscionable.” Merkley added, “No one should have this unchecked surveillance power at their fingertips, which is why I’m teaming up with Senator Sanders to rein in this dangerous technology.”
Sanders’ announcement says one reason for the legislation is that Flock has shared state information with federal immigration officials. In May 2025, 404 Media revealed local police were using Flock lookups for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After that report, Flock made dramatic changes to its product, including stopping other agencies from searching cameras in Illinois, California, and Virginia. Flock said it also introduced a new tool that blocks impermissible searches in real time.
The announcement also said law enforcement have used Flock data to investigate protests against ICE raids and ‘No Kings’ demonstrations. 404 Media revealed both of these, reporting that California cops investigated an “immigration protest” using Flock lookups, and, using data from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, that cops used Flock to monitor No Kings protests around the country. 404 Media also recently reported Flock itself taught cops how to surveil No Kings protesters in a company webinar.
Hajar Hammado, senior policy advisor at activist and progressive policy group Demand Progress, said in a press release “The Ban Flock Act is the gold standard for any legislation working to fight invasive Flock cameras on the federal level. Flock and other ALPR companies have wormed their way into communities across the nation and drastic, all-encompassing action is needed to root them out.”
Senator Josh Hawley announced his own piece of proposed legislation late last month. The Stop Flock Abuse Act would require a written approval process for each search; force agencies to delete driver data after ten days, with exceptions for active investigations; and ban ALPR networks from incorporating facial recognition technology. During a recent senate hearing, Hawley pointed to 404 Media’s reporting specifically.
Separately, Representatives Greg Casar and Shontel Brown recently wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel asking how the agency plans to acquire nationwide access to ALPR data, Semafor reported. 404 Media first revealed this plan in May. The letter also referenced 404 Media’s reporting which revealed a cop in Texas used Flock to search ALPRs nationwide for a woman who self-administered an abortion.
What it means
For people making content, the shift in legislation could alter how surveillance data is used against them. If the Ban Flock Act passes, federal agencies lose the ability to scan plates automatically, and state funding for such systems disappears. This removes a major tool for tracking protesters or individuals across jurisdictions.
