World News
Bipartisan pushback grows against Flock Safety surveillance cameras
Governors across multiple states are moving to ban, defund, or restrict license plate readers over surveillance concerns.
The short version
- Flock Safety surveillance cameras are facing growing bipartisan opposition from state governors across the United States ahead of midterm elections.[NPR]
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called for a statewide ban, Texas Governor Greg Abbott froze state funding, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis planned permit revocations.[NPR]
- Flock Safety and police defend the devices, claiming the technology aids in locating stolen vehicles and finding missing persons.[PBS NewsHour · NPR]
- Recent polling indicates that more Americans currently disapprove of Flock cameras than approve of them.[NPR]
Key facts
- Flock Safety cameras are facing bipartisan opposition from politicians across the political spectrum ahead of the midterm elections.[NPR]
- Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro announced he would welcome bipartisan legislation to enact a statewide ban on Flock cameras.[NPR]
- Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced plans to revoke highway permits for license plate readers to curb government surveillance.[NPR]
- Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott froze state funding for Flock cameras.[NPR]
- Flock Safety claims the system has helped solve about one million crimes and locate roughly 10,000 missing individuals.[PBS NewsHour]
What remains uncertain
- Whether proposed legislative bans or administrative permit revocations will take full effect across individual states remains unsettled.[NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Flock cameras draw opposition from across the political spectrumNPR - Top News
- Flock cameras become midterm campaign target as voters balk at tech companies' powerPBS NewsHour - Politics · Wire: associated-press