Bernie Sanders introduces The Ban Flock Act to restrict surveillance technology

Senator Bernie Sanders, alongside co-sponsors Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jeff Merkley, has introduced 'The Ban Flock Act' in Congress. This proposed legislation seeks to prohibit federal agencies from utilizing automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), specifically targeting Flock Safety, the largest vendor of such technology in the U.S. The bill would also penalize state and local governments by withholding federal funding if they continue to use these surveillance systems. Sanders argues that the widespread deployment of Flock cameras, which record billions of vehicle movements monthly, poses a significant threat to privacy and civil liberties. The legislation includes provisions allowing citizens to sue the federal government for rights violations related to ALPR usage. Concerns cited include the tracking of sensitive movements, potential data misuse by immigration authorities, and the lack of public consent in the mass surveillance of American communities.