Ban Flock Act Filed in Congress

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and Merkley introduced the Ban Flock Act on October 2, 2026 to prohibit federal agencies from using ALPRs and block federal grant funding to state and local governments that deploy them. The bill arrives alongside Senator Hawley's Stop Flock Abuse Act and a Casar-Brown letter to FBI Director Kash Patel about the FBI's plan to buy nationwide ALPR access.

State of Surveillance

TL;DR: Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Ban Flock Act on October 2, 2026 to prohibit federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers or accessing ALPR data, block federal grant funding to state and local governments that deploy ALPRs, and give Americans a private right of action to sue the federal government for rights violations carried out through ALPRs [1][2]. The same federal cluster includes Senator Josh Hawley's Stop Flock Abuse Act, announced in late September, and a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel from Representatives Greg Casar and Shontel Brown about the FBI's nationwide ALPR acquisition plan [2][3]. Flock Safety is the largest ALPR vendor in the country, with more than 120,000 cameras and 20 billion vehicle reads every month, and at least 56 municipalities have deactivated, canceled, or rejected Flock contracts in 2026 [1].

What the Bill Actually Does

The Ban Flock Act operates through three mechanisms, spelled out in the press release Ocasio-Cortez's office issued on October 2, 2026 [1]. The release lists: "Prohibiting the federal government from using automatic license plate readers or accessing the information they collect"; "Stopping federal grant funding from flowing to state or local governments that use automatic license plate readers or contract with automatic license plate readers companies"; and "Allowing Americans to sue the federal government for violation of their rights through the use of automatic license plate readers." [1]

The sponsors' statements single out Flock. Sanders: "At a time of growing concern about the unchecked power of artificial intelligence, Flock is eviscerating the very notion of privacy by installing tens of thousands of cameras in communities across America without their consent." [1][2] Ocasio-Cortez: "Across the country, Big Tech companies like Flock Safety have built a mass surveillance system to harvest Americans' private and personal data without their consent. AI-powered cameras are keeping track of our every move and weaponizing this data against working people to make record profits. The widespread integration of this technology into American society is unconscionable." [1] Merkley: "Your right to privacy includes the freedom to move around your community without every move being monitored. Right now, Flock is selling its cameras nationwide, laying the groundwork for a surveillance state while enriching corporate executives." [1] Demand Progress senior policy advisor Hajar Hammado: "The Ban Flock Act is the gold standard for any legislation working to fight invasive Flock cameras on the federal level. Flock and other ALPR companies have wormed their way into communities across the nation and drastic, all-encompassing action is needed to root them out." [2]

The Network Behind the Push: 120,000 Cameras, 56 Cancellations

The press release lays out the operating scale of the Flock Safety network. Flock is the largest ALPR vendor in the United States, with more than 120,000 cameras nationwide that scan and record 20 billion vehicles every month. Newer Flock cameras record people, not just vehicles, and the company's AI system can combine those images with databases of phone numbers, relatives and court records [1]. The company also operates a national lookup tool, so agencies that contract with Flock can access data generated by cameras in another city or state [1]. The press release also states that "so far this year, at least 56 municipalities have deactivated, cancelled, or rejected contracts with Flock" [1]. The DeFlock revolt article covers the cancellations and the crowdsourced camera map.

The Republican Companion and the FBI Letter

Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, announced a separate ALPR bill in late September 2026. The Stop Flock Abuse Act would require a written approval process for each search, force agencies to delete driver data after ten days with exceptions for active investigations, and ban ALPR networks from incorporating facial recognition technology [2]. The Ban Flock Act cuts federal funding to governments that use ALPRs; the Stop Flock Abuse Act regulates how ALPRs are operated.

Separately, Representatives Greg Casar and Shontel Brown wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel asking how the agency plans to acquire nationwide access to ALPR data, a plan 404 Media first reported on May 18, 2026 from FBI procurement records [2][3]. According to 404 Media, the letter also referenced its reporting that a Texas officer used Flock to search ALPRs nationwide for a woman who self-administered an abortion [2].

What to Watch

Next steps in Congress. Watch for a Senate bill number under Sanders' or Merkley's name, committee referral, and any floor path before the 119th Congress ends.

Hawley's bill. Watch whether the Stop Flock Abuse Act's rules (written approval, ten-day deletion, no face recognition) are combined with the Ban Flock Act or advance on their own [2].

The FBI's response to the Casar-Brown letter. Watch for any FBI answer on how it would acquire nationwide ALPR access, and for any records release on the procurement [2][3].

Flock's voluntary product changes. Flock has already introduced a tool that "blocks impermissible searches in real time" and has stopped other agencies from searching cameras in Illinois, California, and Virginia, per 404 Media's reporting [2]. Watch for whether those voluntary changes slow the bill's momentum, and whether Flock publishes warrant and audit-log policies in response.

Sources

  1. Office of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, Merkley Unveil Ban Flock Act to Protect Americans' Right to Privacy" (October 2, 2026). https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/news-ocasio-cortez-sanders-merkley-unveil-ban-flock-act-protect-americans
  2. 404 Media, Joseph Cox: "Lawmakers Introduce Multiple Laws to Curb Flock After 404 Media Coverage" (October 6, 2026, 9:24 AM). https://www.404media.co/lawmakers-introduce-multiple-laws-to-curb-flock-after-404-media-coverage/
  3. 404 Media, Joseph Cox: "The FBI Wants to Buy Nationwide Access to License Plate Readers" (May 18, 2026, 2:19 PM). https://www.404media.co/the-fbi-wants-to-buy-nationwide-access-to-license-plate-readers/