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Trump backs Flock cameras as GOP lawmaker moves to limit them

By: Sam Taylor Date:

President Trump on Sunday backed the use of Flock cameras, telling reporters he likes the AI surveillance tool because of law enforcement. The comment came as a Republican lawmaker moved to restrict federal funding for the technology, a sign of the bipartisan pushback the company faces.

“Speaking of [artificial intelligence], Flock cameras. You haven’t talked a lot about these Flock cameras. A lot of law enforcement say they really help them. Would you be willing to back that?” a reporter asked Trump on Air Force One.

“No, I sort of like them because of that, because of law enforcement. But some people don’t. They think it’s an infringement,” Trump said, adding later, “I like them.”

Pushback to Flock Safety’s AI vehicle surveillance systems has grown on both sides of the aisle.

Flock operates a system of license plate readers, video cameras and audio detection devices built into its AI database. That database logs license plate numbers and car features like make, model, color and bumper stickers. Local jurisdictions can share data with other law enforcement agencies, creating a network that law enforcement can use in crime solving.

Earlier this month, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) unveiled a bill aimed at limiting federal funds used for automated license plate reader cameras (ALPRs) and biometric surveillance cameras.

The legislation, named the Flock-Off Act, would halt any effort to buy, install, maintain, operate or upgrade ALPRs and biometric surveillance cameras for municipalities or local law enforcement.

“Federal taxpayers should not be forced to fund the surveillance state,” Massie said in a post on the social platform X.

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Sam Taylor

Reporter at DukeCityWire, covering the city beat.

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