Sanders introduces bill to ban the federal government from using Flock

Federal agencies may soon be unable to access license plate tracking data, changing how law enforcement and other government bodies conduct investigations.

Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill, the Ban Flock Act, aiming to prohibit federal agencies from utilizing automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and data from such systems. The legislation, which covers all ALPR systems and not just Flock, would permit exceptions only for toll collection and for uses Congress specifically approves with data retention limited to 48 hours. If enacted, state and local governments not complying would risk losing federal grants from departments like Justice and Homeland Security, starting in the first fiscal year after the bill becomes law. The bill also allows for private citizens to sue the federal government over violations and empowers state attorneys general to enforce the law. Flock, identified as the largest ALPR vendor in the U.S. with over 120,000 cameras processing billions of vehicle reads monthly, has faced increasing community protests and contract cancellations, prompting the company to tighten its data retention policies to seven days and introduce an audit tool.

The introduction of the Ban Flock Act signifies a significant legislative pushback against the widespread deployment of ALPR technology by government entities. By threatening federal funding and enabling legal challenges, the bill aims to exert considerable pressure on both federal agencies and state/local governments to reconsider their reliance on ALPR data. This move reflects growing public concern over privacy and surveillance, potentially forcing a reevaluation of data collection practices and vendor relationships across the public sector.

The potential impact of this legislation extends beyond just federal agencies, as it could set a precedent for stricter regulations on ALPR usage nationwide. Companies like Flock, which have aggressively expanded their camera networks, may face an uncertain future if such bills gain traction, forcing them to adapt their business models or face significant market contraction. The debate also highlights a broader tension between public safety objectives and individual privacy rights in an increasingly connected world.