Seth Bodnar, an Independent candidate vying for a US Senate seat in Montana, has released a campaign advertisement depicting him shooting a decoy Flock camera. Bodnar stated that the stunt was intended to highlight his concerns about surveillance technology and its impact on individual freedom, asserting that "This isn't an issue that's about left or right. This is about individual freedom."
Bodnar explained that he launched the ad because Montanans have expressed a desire to prevent corporations from logging their daily activities. He noted that Flock Safety's automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) have drawn criticism nationwide due to privacy concerns and instances of data misuse by law enforcement, including wrongful targeting or arrests. While Flock and police departments maintain the technology aids in crime-solving, the company has recently implemented new data retention policies in response to backlash.
Bodnar voiced his support for the Flock-Off Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Thomas Massie and Eric Burlison, which aims to cut federal funding for ALPRs and biometric surveillance cameras. He believes the federal government should implement more comprehensive regulations, suggesting national standards for data storage duration, restrictions on data usage, mandatory audits, and penalties for misuse. Bodnar also called for closing loopholes that allow police to use data from private cameras without a warrant.
Bodnar is running to succeed retiring Republican Senator Steve Daines. A recent poll indicated that Republican Kurt Alme leads Bodnar by eight points in the race. Beyond Flock cameras, Bodnar's campaign ad also touched upon broader concerns regarding Big Tech's collection and sale of personal data, as well as the expansion of data centers.
