Key facts
- Donald Trump said he likes Flock Safety's AI-powered surveillance cameras.
- Flock has installed over 120,000 cameras across more than 6,000 U.S. communities.
- The company's network scans approximately 20 billion vehicles monthly.
- Senator Josh Hawley is investigating Flock's data practices.
- Senator Bernie Sanders plans to introduce legislation targeting Flock's network.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott halted state funding for Flock cameras.
President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Flock Safety's AI-powered surveillance cameras, stating he "likes them" because they assist law enforcement. His remarks, made aboard Air Force One, mark a clear stance on the technology that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers in both parties.
Trump acknowledged that some view the cameras as an "infringement" on privacy but reiterated his support after a reporter noted their effectiveness in catching criminals. Flock's system uses fixed cameras to photograph passing vehicles, logging features like make, model, color, and identifying details. The company has deployed over 120,000 cameras in more than 6,000 U.S. communities, scanning approximately 20 billion vehicles each month.
While police departments credit the network with helping solve cases, critics argue it creates movement logs for individuals not suspected of any crime. This tension has been amplified by Flock's development of an AI tool, Flock OS Investigate, which allows officers to query vehicles by movement patterns and identify "associates" based on shared camera locations within a short timeframe.
In response to these concerns, Senator Josh Hawley launched an investigation into Flock's data practices in August, later expanding it to include other surveillance vendors. Senator Bernie Sanders has also pledged separate legislation to regulate the company, and Representative Thomas Massie is proposing a bill to cut federal funding for agencies using such cameras. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to cease funding for Flock cameras, and the Los Angeles Police Department suspended its contract due to data-sharing and security issues.
Trump's comments place him at odds with these trends and some of the Republican lawmakers leading the congressional pushback. During the same flight, Trump also addressed artificial intelligence safety, expressing a more combative stance and dismissing calls for stricter regulations as coming from "negative forces."