Washington, D.C. — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced legislation Thursday that would restrict federal funding for automated license plate readers and biometric surveillance cameras used by local governments and police departments.
The “Flock-Off Act” would prohibit federal money from being used to purchase, install, maintain, operate or upgrade automated license plate reader systems, including technology sold by Flock Safety and other companies.
The bill would also apply to contracts, subscriptions, licenses and data-sharing agreements involving the technology. Localities that used federal funds for prohibited systems could be required to repay the Treasury before receiving additional money.
Massie said taxpayers should not be forced to finance what he described as a growing “surveillance state.”
The legislation includes exceptions for systems used within one mile of the northern and southern borders for detecting unlawful entry, human trafficking and drug smuggling. It would also exempt cameras used solely for toll collection.
Flock Safety pushed back, warning that withholding funds from departments using license plate readers could hurt public safety. The company said Congress should establish safeguards and oversight rather than broadly restrict the technology.
Privacy advocates have raised increasing concerns about automated plate-reader networks because they can track vehicle movements across jurisdictions and allow agencies to search large databases of location information. Flock has faced lawsuits, public backlash and contract cancellations, while anti-surveillance group DeFlock says more than 150 cities have moved to reject or end agreements with the company.
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