Flock Safety, known for incorporating Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology into its cameras, has captured the headlines recently as law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have utilized the technology, touting its usefulness in investigating crimes, recovering stolen vehicles and locating missing people.

However, critics of Flock Cameras say the technology poses serious questions about citizens’ privacy. Now, OpenSecrets, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C., has released a report saying that the company has spent $2 million in lobbying efforts since 2025 across the U.S.

Flock Hired Former Government Officials As Lobbyists

The report, released Thursday, states that Flock spent “nearly $1.3 million between January 2025 and July 2026” in its lobbying efforts, as well as roughly $1 million “in statehouses” across the country, citing lobbying disclosures as well as the nonprofit’s own data.

The report also said it sought the services of former government employees as lobbyists across dozens of states. The report also cites instances of law enforcement officials using the technology to conduct personal searches.

According to a report by CNN on Wednesday, an officer in Kentucky was recently arrested after the accused allegedly accessed the Flock system 2,000 times to track his ex-girlfriend’s movements.

During the period from April 1st to June 30, Flock spent “$220,000 in federal lobbying,” additionally spending “$210,000 in each of the five preceding quarters,” according to the report. Flock has spent nearly $1.3 million in Federal lobbying, including “$840,000 in 2025 and $430,000 so far in 2026,” the report outlined.

Flock’s lobbying activities focus on both chambers of Congress as well as the White House on issues like law enforcement and crime.

The company spent $180,000 in California, its largest-known lobbying expenditure, on bills “adding guardrails around vendor contracts for license plate reader systems,” the report said. It also spent $169,000 since January 2025 on lobbying in Massachusetts as well as $102,000 in Wisconsin, according to Opensecrets.

Data Privacy

However, Torin Monahan, who is a professor at the University of North Carolina and a privacy advocate, said in the report that concerns about the company’s AI models and their training loom with the technology.

“What we don’t know…is where all those data are going,” Monahan said. “What controls might we have about the applications that these AI systems are being put toward?" he said in the report.

Bipartisan Pushback

The report comes as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called for a ban on the Flock camera network via a post on the social media platform X. He had called the technology “AI mass surveillance.” Sanders alleged that newer Flock cameras could also track people.

“We must come together to stop Flock and AI mass surveillance. That is why I will soon be introducing legislation to do just that,” Sanders said in his August 26th post.

GOP lawmakers have also expressed opposition to the technology. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) earlier called for a ban on the technology, saying that law enforcement must get a warrant to use the technology, citing possible Fourth Amendment violations due to its use.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) also launched an investigation into Flock’s nationwide license-plate camera network. He demanded details from the company about who can access the data collected by the network of cameras. “Americans do not surrender their privacy rights when they drive to work, drop their kids off at school or go to church,” Hawley said.

Meanwhile, the city of Tempe, Arizona, announced it will end its contract with Flock as “recent misuse of automated license plate reader systems in Arizona and nationwide has raised concerns about the risks that come with the technology.” Tempe administration also said that it will not seek to replace the system with another company.

Notably, e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) had earlier received staunch criticism of the partnership between its Ring cameras and Flock. Following the backlash, Amazon announced it was ending its partnership with Flock.

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