Sen. Bernie Sanders is vowing to take on Flock Safety and the rise of AI-powered surveillance, promising legislation he says will curb what he calls a march toward a “surveillance state.” In a blunt post on X on Aug. 26, 2026, Sanders opened with “STOP FLOCK. STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE,” warning that unchecked tracking technology risks enabling totalitarian-style monitoring. He accused Flock—which he says counts tech investors Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel among its backers—of deploying more than 120,000 AI-enabled cameras across some 6,000 communities that scan roughly 20 billion vehicles each month. Sanders argued those cameras capture ordinary activities—dropping kids at school, doctor visits, dates—and claimed Flock’s AI can link vehicle images with phone records, family ties and court files to identify who someone is and where they’re going. He closed by promising to introduce a bill to rein in the technology, though he did not give a timeline. Sanders’ attack adds a prominent progressive voice to a growing bipartisan backlash. Rep. Thomas Massie has already proposed blocking federal funds for agencies that deploy automated license-plate readers. Local governments from Los Angeles to Monroe County, Indiana, have suspended or canceled contracts amid privacy concerns, and activists in multiple states have vandalized or disabled devices. Flock, based in Atlanta and founded in 2017, counters that its cameras focus on vehicles, not faces, and typically retain footage for 30 days. CEO Garrett Langley has said critics often change their tune once they learn the system targets cars, and he recently apologized for having labeled anti-Flock activists a “terroristic organization.” In a Fox News interview this week Langley urged Americans to “compromise” on privacy in the name of safety. The company has been rapidly expanding its footprint, including a plate-scanning program that involves Uber drivers and tools marketed to police for tracking drivers. Why it matters to the crypto and privacy communities: location and identity linkage are core privacy risks that resonate with decentralized-technology advocates. Legislation targeting mass plate-scanning systems could set precedents for how regulators treat automated data collection and AI-driven identification—issues likely to affect broader debates over data sovereignty, surveillance-resistant tools, and the responsibilities of platforms that monetize sensitive information. Keep an eye on Sanders’ bill and related measures on Capitol Hill; they could reshape the legal landscape for mass surveillance technologies.
Bernie Sanders Vows to Target Flock Safety's AI Surveillance Amid Privacy Concerns
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Summary
Sen. Bernie Sanders has announced plans to propose new crypto legislation targeting Flock Safety’s AI surveillance systems, which operate over 120,000 cameras in 6,000 U.S. communities. The senator expressed concerns about linking vehicle data to personal information, raising fears of a surveillance state. Flock claims its system tracks vehicles, not faces, and keeps footage for 30 days. The push aligns with broader CFT (Countering the Financing of Terrorism) efforts, as privacy advocates and local governments weigh in. The debate could shape future rules on AI and data collection, with crypto and privacy groups paying close attention.
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