US senators from both parties are examining the privacy and security risks of automated license plate reader networks, with particular attention on Flock Safety. At a Judiciary subcommittee hearing, lawmakers questioned how camera records can be searched across jurisdictions and used to build a connected history of a vehicle’s movements.
The invited chief executives of Flock, Axon, Motorola Solutions and Verkada did not testify. Witnesses instead included security and legal experts, a sheriff whose department ended its Flock contract and a Florida woman who said she spent 13 days in jail after cameras incorrectly linked her car to a crime scene. Verkada said its customers can access only their own systems and that it does not operate a searchable national network.
Concerns crossed party lines. Democrats asked whether federal immigration agencies could obtain records indirectly through local officers and whether cameras could track people seeking reproductive care. Republicans raised similar fears about monitoring gun stores, shows and ranges. Some systems retain location records for a month.
Subcommittee chair Josh Hawley said lawmakers are still learning how these networks differ from traditional readers and has not committed to specific legislation. A subpoena for company leaders would require a full committee vote. The hearing therefore signals increased scrutiny, not an enacted restriction on Flock or its competitors.