Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is not happy about the growing network of AI-powered license plate readers from Flock Safety. On Tuesday, he took to X to warn that the company's cameras are tracking Americans' movements, and he's calling for an end to what he calls "AI mass surveillance."

Bernie Sanders Calls Flock Cameras 'Mass Surveillance'

Sanders didn't mince words. He said Flock has installed nearly 100,000 cameras across the U.S. and that the technology can track where you go and what you do.

"Going to the doctor? Flock knows," Sanders wrote on X. "Dropping your kid off at school? Flock is tracking you."

"Flock is always watching," he added, urging people to "STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE. STOP FLOCK."

Flock, which makes automated license plate readers, told Axios it has more than 120,000 cameras across the country. The cameras use AI to capture license plates and other vehicle characteristics, along with the time and location of the sighting.

Flock did not immediately respond to MarketDash's request for comment.

Flock Faces Growing Privacy Backlash

Supporters of the technology say it helps police identify suspects, recover stolen vehicles, and locate missing people. Flock says its network assisted with roughly 1 million police investigations last year and helped find about 10,000 missing people, according to the Axios report.

But critics argue that creating a searchable record of vehicle movements amounts to constant surveillance and threatens civil liberties. The concerns have intensified following investigations into alleged misuse by police officers. In Reynoldsburg, Ohio, an internal investigation found an officer had used Flock more than 40 times to track a former domestic partner, according to the report.

Cities Push Back as Flock Adds Privacy Guardrails

The backlash has prompted communities to cancel or reconsider Flock contracts. Lago Vista, Texas, has voted unanimously to end its agreement, while Denver ended its Flock arrangement in February.

Flock has responded by making misuse detection mandatory and, in some cases, reducing default data retention from 30 days to seven days.

Flock Faces Backlash Over Privacy and ICE Concerns

Earlier this year, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) Ring announced it was ending its integration with Flock Safety following intense backlash over the partnership.

In 2025, 404 Media reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had no formal agreement with Flock Safety, but internal data showed local police departments frequently searched the company's system for immigration-related information at ICE's request.

Flock says it does not work with ICE or any other sub-agency within the Department of Homeland Security, according to a statement on the company's website.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.