# Senators probe Flock cameras and data access

> Senators question Flock's surveillance network after reports of police misuse.
- Title: Senators probe Flock cameras and data access · Valleynewslive
- Summary: Senators question Flock's surveillance network after reports of police misuse. U.S. senators held a hearing on Flock's AI-powered license plate readers…
- Keywords: flock, senators, alpr, privacy, congress, surveillance, senate, judiciary, news, local, probe, cameras
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/23/senators-question-use-flock-cameras-data-access-subcommittee-hearing
- Published: 2026-09-23T22:10:30.881+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: flock, senators, alpr, privacy, congress, surveillance, senate, judiciary, news, local
## Senate hearing on Flock cameras
U.S. senators held a hearing Wednesday to examine how police have misused Flock's automated license plate readers for stalking civilians and officers.

> The reporting on what these cameras can do is really pretty wild
## Flock executives absent
Flock Safety CEO and other major surveillance company leaders did not attend the hearing despite being invited to testify.

> Flock does not believe Americans' privacy should depend on one vendor's good judgment
## Privacy concerns raised
InvestigateTV reported 19 instances in Georgia where police were arrested or relieved for misusing Flock's database for personal reasons.

> Flock Safety operates more than 120,000 automated license plate reader cameras
## Data retention policy
Flock retains license plate data for 30 days across jurisdictions, allowing law enforcement to search historical records.

> The data is retained and searchable by law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions for 30 days
## Public verification challenges
Flock removed officer names from external searches and license plate numbers from audit logs, limiting public ability to verify vehicle searches.

> Privacy advocates and public records watchdogs also raised alarms after Flock removed officer names from external network searches
## Senator Hawley's concerns
Senator Hawley stated the Constitution remains valid and emphasized the need to protect Bill of Rights for law-abiding citizens.

> The Constitution of the United States is still just as valid and applicable today as it was almost 250 years ago
## Innocent woman jailed
Lindsay Issacs spent 13 days in jail after Flock's camera falsely identified her vehicle in a fatal accident.

> A Flock camera captured my vehicle a few miles from a terrible crash I had nothing to do with that led to 13 days in jail
## Senator Durbin's call
Senator Durbin urged Congress to balance privacy and security by establishing constitutional boundaries for surveillance technology.

> We have got to find a way to balance in America privacy and security
## Civil liberties advocates
Civil liberties groups called for federal regulations to ban law enforcement from using ALPRs with federal funding.

> The time has come for Congress to ban any law enforcement entity who receives federal funding from using ALPRs
## Key takeaway

U.S. senators held a hearing on Flock's AI-powered license plate readers following reports of police misuse and privacy concerns.