Flock CEO, tech rivals called to testify before senators over AI camera privacy concerns
Senate Subcommittee to Hear CEOs of Four AI‑Surveillance Companies
WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism will hold a hearing on September 23 to examine the nationwide deployment of artificial‑intelligence–powered surveillance cameras, a technology that has drawn criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum. The panel, chaired by Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, has called four company executives to testify: Garrett Langley of Flock Safety, Rick Smith of Axon Enterprise, Greg Brown of Motorola Solutions and Filip Kaliszan of Verkada.
The hearing, titled “Always Watching: Flock’s Nationwide AI Surveillance Network,” will focus on the ways in which the cameras automatically identify vehicles and license plates for local police, and whether such systems can operate without warrants or driver consent. Hawley told reporters that the investigation seeks to determine “who has access to hundreds of millions of Americans’ data and what they’re doing with it.”
Background on the Cameras
Flock Safety, headquartered in Austin, Texas, manufactures a network of 120,000 cameras that use machine‑learning algorithms to read license plates and track vehicle movements. The system is used by more than 1,400 police departments, and operates in every U.S. state except Alaska. Similar AI‑enabled cameras are offered by companies such as Axon Enterprise, which provides body‑camera and police‑tech equipment; Motorola Solutions, a maker of public‑ safety gear; and Verkada, which sells security‑camera hardware and software.
State officials have responded in a variety of ways. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the removal of all license‑plate‑reader cameras from state roads, citing privacy concerns. Texas Governor Greg Abbott halted state spending on Flock Safety devices after a review of their data‑handling practices. In Tennessee, a mayor has called for constitutional safeguards before further deployment of the cameras.
Opposition on Both Sides
The controversy has attracted voices from both ends of the political aisle. Republican lawmakers emphasize privacy rights and the potential for government overreach, arguing that the cameras enable warrantless surveillance of everyday citizens. “Americans do not surrender their privacy rights when they drive to work, drop their kids off at school, or go to church,” Hawley said. The cameras also raise concerns about the broader trend of data collection and AI use by law enforcement.
At the same time, left‑wing activists and organizers have joined forces to protest the technology, framing it as a component of an emerging “AI surveillance state.” Groups such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Sunrise Movement and the Tea Party have held rallies linking data‑center expansion to mass surveillance. A coalition called “deFLOCK” has organized public forums and protests in several cities, arguing that both data‑center construction and AI cameras serve billionaire interests rather than ordinary communities.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has publicly supported the deployment of Flock Safety cameras, citing their benefits to law‑enforcement agencies.
What to Expect at the Hearing
During the September 23 hearing, the four CEOs will be asked about the data collection practices of their companies, how the cameras’ algorithms operate, and what safeguards exist to protect individual privacy. Senators will also examine how state and federal governments are handling licensing, data retention, and transparency requirements.
The panel’s inquiry comes amid a broader debate over the role of AI in public safety and the balance between security and civil liberties. As the hearing approaches, stakeholders on all sides are preparing to present evidence and arguments about the future of AI‑enabled surveillance across the United States.