On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) warned about the growing reach of Flock Safety’s AI-powered license plate reader network as privacy concerns and allegations of police misuse fuel a nationwide backlash.
Bernie Sanders Calls Flock Cameras ‘Mass Surveillance’
Sanders took aim at Flock Safety, saying the company has installed nearly 100,000 cameras across the U.S. and warning that the technology can track Americans’ movements.
"Going to the doctor? Flock knows," Sanders wrote on X. "Dropping your kid off at school? Flock is tracking you."
"Flock is always watching," he added, calling for an end to "AI mass surveillance."
The AI surveillance company Flock has installed nearly 100,000 cameras across America to track your every movement.
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 18, 2026
Going to the doctor? Flock knows.
Dropping your kid off at school? Flock is tracking you.
Flock is always watching.
STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE. STOP FLOCK.
Flock, which makes automated license plate readers, told Axios it has more than 120,000 cameras across the country. The cameras use AI to capture license plates and other vehicle characteristics, along with the time and location of the sighting.
Flock did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Flock Faces Growing Privacy Backlash
Supporters say the technology helps police identify suspects, recover stolen vehicles and locate missing people. Flock says its network assisted with roughly 1 million police investigations last year and helped find about 10,000 missing people, the Axios report added.
However, critics argue that creating a searchable record of vehicle movements amounts to constant surveillance and threatens civil liberties.
The concerns have intensified following investigations into alleged misuse by police officers. In Reynoldsburg, Ohio, an internal investigation found an officer had used Flock more than 40 times to track a former domestic partner, according to the report.
Cities Push Back as Flock Adds Privacy Guardrails
The backlash has prompted communities to cancel or reconsider Flock contracts. Lago Vista, Texas, has voted unanimously to end its agreement, while Denver ended its Flock arrangement in February.
Flock has responded by making misuse detection mandatory and, in some cases, reducing default data retention from 30 days to seven days.
Flock Faces Backlash Over Privacy and ICE Concerns
Earlier this year, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) Ring announced it was ending its integration with Flock Safety following intense backlash over the partnership.
In 2025, 404 Media reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had no formal agreement with Flock Safety, but internal data showed local police departments frequently searched the company’s system for immigration-related information at ICE’s request.
Flock says it does not work with ICE or any other sub-agency within the Department of Homeland Security, according to a statement on the company’s website.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: LiamMurphyPics on Shutterstock.com
