Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders and AOC Push Federal Ban on Flock Surveillance Cameras
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley has joined a national push to ban AI-powered surveillance cameras that track thousands of vehicle license plates in the Beaver State every month.
Merkley introduces the Ban Flock Act to Bar Federal Agencies
On Friday, Merkley and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) introduced the Ban Flock Act end AI-powered surveillance cameras tracking Americans across the country.
If successful, the Act will prohibit federal agencies from using Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and block states and local governments from funding the technology.
ALPRs are Dangerous Technology
Calling ALPRs a “dangerous technology,” Merkley highlighted that Flock operates more than 120,000 cameras nationwide, scanning and recording 20 billion vehicles monthly.
Merkley says the Flock AI system can combine images of drivers and their vehicles with databases of phone numbers, relatives, and court records to establish identities, destinations, and the reasons for the trip. Agencies in other cities or states contracted with Flock can access data generated in other regions of the country.
“No one should have this unchecked surveillance power at their fingertips, which is why I’m teaming up with Senator Sanders to rein in this dangerous technology,” says Merkley in a press statement.
More Than 500 License Plate Readers Operate Across Oregon
In Oregon, the AI-powered camera network captures license plate numbers at more than 500 locations.
Both Republicans and Democrats describe the cameras as an invasion of privacy, tracking vehicles whose owners are not suspected of a crime or violation.
At a recent trial in Woodburn, home to Oregon’s biggest Latino community, it was revealed that data collected by the camera system was accessed by federal immigration agencies, an action expressly prohibited by Oregon law. Woodburn suspended its contract with Flock.
Other Oregon cities that have canceled or suspended Flock contracts in recent months, citing privacy and safety concerns, include Bend, Eugene, Springfield, Talent, Winston and Woodburn.
Oregon lawmakers also recently passed legislation limiting the reach of AI-powered camera networks. They mandated that images can be stored for only 30 days unless the driver is suspected of a traffic offense or a more serious crime.