Sanders Pledges Bill to Halt AI Mass Surveillance

Sanders Targets Surveillance Camera Company, Citing AI and “Totalitarianism” Fears

Senator Bernie Sanders has announced his intention to introduce legislation targeting surveillance camera company Flock Safety, warning that artificial intelligence is propelling the United States toward a “surveillance state.”

In a lengthy post on X on Wednesday, the independent senator from Vermont framed the issue in stark terms, opening with the declaration “STOP FLOCK. STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE.” He cautioned that unchecked tracking technology risks steering the U.S. toward totalitarianism.

Sanders stated that Flock, which he described as backed by tech figures Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel, has deployed over 120,000 AI-powered cameras nationwide. These cameras, he noted, scan and record 20 billion vehicles monthly across more than 6,000 communities.

The senator argued that the company’s reach extends into daily life, asserting that wherever Flock operates, its cameras log residents dropping off children at school, visiting doctors, or going on dates. He also highlighted newer capabilities, contending that Flock’s AI can cross-reference images of individuals and their vehicles with databases of phone numbers, relatives, and court records to identify people and track their movements. Sanders concluded his post by promising to introduce a bill to curb the technology.

The pledge adds a prominent voice to a growing bipartisan backlash against Flock’s automated license plate readers. Opposition has already surfaced on Capitol Hill, with Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky announcing plans for legislation to withhold federal funding from agencies that utilize the cameras. Local governments, from Los Angeles to Monroe County, Indiana, have suspended or canceled contracts due to privacy concerns, while activists in numerous states have vandalized or disabled the devices.

Flock, an Atlanta-based company founded in 2017, maintains that its cameras do not employ facial recognition and typically retain footage for 30 days. CEO Garrett Langley has argued that critics often change their views once they understand the technology primarily photographs vehicles. He recently apologized for previously labeling anti-Flock activists a “terroristic organization.”

In an interview with FOX News earlier this week, Langley urged Americans to “compromise” on their privacy, suggesting that citizens should prioritize safety over surveillance concerns.

Flock has pursued aggressive expansion over the past year, including a nationwide plate-scanning initiative involving Uber drivers and a police tool for tracking drivers.

Senator Sanders did not specify a timeline for introducing his proposed bill.