Republican lawmakers introduce bills to limit Flock and license plate reader surveillance
Rep. Greg Steube's bill would require federal agencies to get warrants for license plate reader data, and Sen. Josh Hawley is introducing a separate bill setting data limits. Both come amid scrutiny of Flock Safety's camera network.
Updated (version 3). Rewritten with the latest reporting. Previously: “Two Republican bills would limit Flock and license plate reader surveillance”.
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The story, neutrally told
Rep. Greg Steube, a Florida Republican, introduced the FLAFO Act on September 24; it would bar federal agencies from buying, operating, accessing or sharing data from networked license plate reader systems without a warrant. NewsweekN “The bill would prevent federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or sharing data from networked ALPR systems without securing a warrant first.” Read at Newsweek ↗ It would also make certain Justice Department grants for state, local and tribal police conditional on adopting similar privacy rules. NewsweekN “they would have to adopt privacy rules similar to the ones required by the FLAFO Act to get the funding” Read at Newsweek ↗ Separately, Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, is unveiling the Stop Flock Abuse Act on Wednesday, reported first by CBS News. CBS NewsLC “Sen. Josh Hawley is unveiling legislation Wednesday to establish guardrails for Flock cameras and other artificial intelligence-powered surveillance technology, CBS News has learned.” Read at CBS News ↗ BreitbartR “CBS News reports that the bill, called the Stop Flock Abuse Act” Read at Breitbart ↗
It would bar local governments from selling or sharing vehicle data, require agencies to delete driver data within 10 days unless a criminal investigation is under way, and ban facial recognition on these networks. CBS NewsLC “agencies would be required to permanently delete driver data within 10 days unless a criminal investigation is being conducted” Read at CBS News ↗ BreitbartR “Surveillance networks would also be banned from using facial recognition technology.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Searches would need written approval and an audit log, and data would have to be encrypted and kept in the United States. CBS NewsLC “Data would have to be encrypted and remain in the United States.” Read at CBS News ↗ Hawley said Flock and its competitors' cameras are creating digital footprints of Americans and called them "a nightmare for individual liberties unless Congress enacts meaningful rules and accountability." CBS NewsLC “a nightmare for individual liberties unless Congress enacts meaningful rules and accountability” Read at CBS News ↗
Hawley opened an investigation in August and chaired a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing last week; executives from Flock, Axon, Motorola and Verkada declined to testify. CBS NewsLC “In August, Hawley launched an investigation into Flock and other surveillance technology companies.” Read at CBS News ↗ BreitbartR “Executives from Flock, Axon, Motorola and Verkada were invited to testify but declined to appear.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Flock CEO Garrett Langley sent a letter describing safeguards, and Flock says it operates 120,000 cameras in 49 states. BreitbartR “Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley instead sent the panel a letter describing safeguards the company has put in place.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Researcher Joshua Michael published a map he says shows more than 300,000 Flock-linked devices, including over 170,000 cameras; a brand-protection firm acting for Flock filed a trademark complaint against the site hosting it. NewsweekN “Doppel, a brand-protection company acting on Flock's behalf, filed a trademark complaint targeting the website hosting the map.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Steube cited reported cases in Florida, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin of officers allegedly misusing the databases, and a Florida woman, Lindsey Isaacs, testified she was jailed after her car was misidentified on a Flock camera. NewsweekN “reported cases in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin in which officers allegedly misused ALPR databases” Read at Newsweek ↗ CBS NewsLC “wrongfully accused of fleeing a fatal accident and jailed in solitary confinement after her Dodge Durango was misidentified on a Flock camera” Read at CBS News ↗ Sens. Raphael Warnock and Katie Britt have asked the attorney general for Justice Department guidance, and several House bills have been introduced. CBS NewsLC “urging the Department of Justice to provide more guidance to state and local governments” Read at CBS News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- CBS News leads with an exclusive on Hawley's bill, presenting it as a push for guardrails on AI-powered surveillance, with a short video segment repeating the angle.
- Emphasis
- Bill provisions, the hearing the companies declined, the wrongly accused witness, and bipartisan interest in Congress.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Steube's warrant bill, the Flock Surveillance Map or the trademark dispute.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Newsweek covers Steube's warrant bill alongside the disputed size of Flock's network and the fight over a map of devices.
- Emphasis
- The warrant requirement, the researcher's claimed vulnerability, and Flock's trademark complaint rather than public response.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Hawley's bill; Steube and Flock had not replied to requests for comment.
- Charged language
- “dominant player”
- For example
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“So rather than publicly addressing the map's findings, Flock has tried to get it removed.” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Breitbart presents Hawley's bill as reining in abuse, quoting his strong language and Langley's call for compromise.
- Emphasis
- Hawley's 'nightmare' and 'threat' language, civil liberties, and the 'Have I Been Flocked' site.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Steube's warrant bill, the map dispute or the Warnock-Britt letter.
- Charged language
- “Nightmare”“Rein In”
- For example
-
“Hawley Unveils Bill to Rein In 'Nightmare' Abuse of AI-Powered Flock Cameras” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Flock Safety cameras face growing congressional scrutiny.
- A Senate Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing last week.
- Flock says it operates about 120,000 cameras.
Where accounts differ
-
Size of Flock's network
- Left
- CBS repeats Flock's 120,000-camera figure without challenge.
- Centre
- Newsweek notes researcher Joshua Michael's map found over 170,000 cameras versus Flock's 120,000 figure.
- Right
- Breitbart repeats Flock's website figure of 120,000 cameras.
-
Flock Safety operates about 120,000 cameras nationwide.
Reported- Reports 2
- CBS News, Breitbart
- Earlier 1
- Newsweek
-
Flock and similar license plate reader cameras have been misused in ways that warrant new federal limits.
Supported- Supports 2
- CBS News, Breitbart
- Reports 1
- Newsweek
-
A Senate Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing on Flock and large-scale license plate reader networks in the past week.
Reported- Reports 3
- CBS News, Newsweek, Breitbart
-
Members of Congress are advancing legislation to restrict use of Flock-style license plate reader cameras.
Supported- Supports 3
- CBS News, Newsweek, Breitbart
Josh Hawley person
Hawley says the cameras threaten liberties and that Congress must set rules; he regrets the companies' refusal to testify.
“I think that that's unfortunate and I think we need to hear from them about what their networks do” — CBS News
Flock Safety organisation
Flock says it wants frameworks preserving law enforcement use while ensuring accountability, and its CEO says its goal is not a dystopian future.
“Effective frameworks should preserve law enforcement’s ability to use an important public safety tool while requiring accountability, oversight and responsible data practices.” — Breitbart
“end goal isn’t a dystopian future of surveillance; it’s one where we all feel safe.” — Newsweek
Left2 articles
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Sen. Josh Hawley introduces bill aimed at stopping abuse of Flock cameras
Neutral Exclusive on Hawley's bill, giving its provisions and the Senate hearing background, with quotes from Hawley and a Flock letter.
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Senator Hawley looks to reign in Flock camera abuse with new bill
Neutral Short video segment announcing Hawley's bill as a move to curb Flock camera abuse.
Centre1 article
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New Bill Targets Flock Surveillance As Questions Raised Over Cameras
Mixed Reports Steube's warrant bill in the context of the disputed network size and the takedown fight, and notes that Flock has not commented directly on the findings.
Right1 article
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Hawley Unveils Bill to Rein In 'Nightmare' Abuse of AI-Powered Flock Cameras
Sympathetic Rewrites CBS's reporting, foregrounding Hawley's quotes and civil-liberties concerns.
- 29 Sep 16:14 First NewsweekN New Bill Targets Flock Surveillance As Questions Raised Over Cameras
- 30 Sep 10:04 +17h 50m CBS NewsLC Sen. Josh Hawley introduces bill aimed at stopping abuse of Flock cameras
- 30 Sep 16:59 +24h 44m CBS NewsLC Senator Hawley looks to reign in Flock camera abuse with new bill
- 30 Sep 17:30 +25h 15m BreitbartR Hawley Unveils Bill to Rein In 'Nightmare' Abuse of AI-Powered Flock Cameras
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.