Sen. Bernie Sanders is taking aim at Flock Safety, pledging to introduce legislation targeting the surveillance-camera company as he warned that artificial intelligence is pushing the country toward a “surveillance state.”
In a lengthy post on X on Wednesday, the Vermont independent framed the fight in stark terms, opening with “STOP FLOCK. STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE” and cautioning that unchecked tracking technology risks steering the U.S. toward totalitarianism.
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Sanders stated that Flock, which he described as backed by tech investors Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel, has deployed more than 120,000 AI-powered cameras across the country that scan and record 20 billion vehicles each month in over 6,000 communities.
Sanders argued the reach extends into daily life, noting that wherever Flock operates, its cameras log residents dropping children at school, visiting healthcare providers, or going about their personal business. He also highlighted newer capabilities, contending Flock’s AI can combine images of a person and their vehicle with databases containing phone numbers, relatives, and court records to identify individuals and track their movements. He concluded by promising to introduce a bill to regulate the technology.
STOP FLOCK. STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE.
Totalitarianism is when a government or another entity with overwhelming power seeks to know, control and influence everything you do, say and even think. I fear very much that if we don’t act aggressively, that is where we’re heading.…
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 26, 2026
The pledge adds a prominent voice to a swelling bipartisan backlash. Opposition to Flock’s automated license plate readers has already reached Capitol Hill, where Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie announced plans to introduce legislation withholding federal funding from agencies that deploy the cameras. Local governments from Los Angeles to Monroe County, Indiana, have suspended or canceled contracts amid privacy concerns, while activists in dozens of states have vandalized or disabled the devices.
Atlanta-based Flock, founded in 2017, states its cameras do not use facial recognition and typically retain footage for 30 days. CEO Garrett Langley has argued that critics often soften once they understand the technology primarily photographs vehicles, and he recently apologized for previously labeling anti-Flock activists a “terroristic organization.”
In an interview with FOX News earlier this week, Langley asked Americans to “compromise” on their privacy, suggesting citizens should prioritize safety over concerns about surveillance.
Flock has moved aggressively over the past year to expand its footprint, including a nationwide plate-scanning fleet involving Uber drivers and a police tool for tracking drivers.
Sanders did not specify when he would introduce the bill.
