Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has initiated an investigation into the surveillance network operated by Flock Safety, a private camera company. In a letter to CEO Garrett Langley, Hawley requested documentation regarding who has access to the personal data of individuals captured by the company’s nationwide camera system.
Flock Safety operates more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states, according to the letter. Hawley reported that the system performs approximately 20 billion vehicle scans each month. The technology utilizes artificial intelligence to aggregate captured data into a national database searchable by the company's customers, which include law enforcement agencies and private entities.
The investigation follows reports of data misuse and technical inaccuracies. Hawley cited an audit in St. Charles County, Missouri, which led the local police department to terminate its contract after a civilian employee was found using the system for personal reasons. He also noted a case in Milwaukee where an officer allegedly used the network to track a girlfriend's license plate over 100 times. Additionally, the letter mentioned that the Los Angeles Police Department ended its contract after an audit showed 161 vehicles were incorrectly flagged as stolen.
For the average citizen, this network means that routine activities—such as driving to work, school, or religious services—are recorded and stored in a searchable database. A person would notice the concrete effects of this system primarily if they are the subject of a law enforcement stop triggered by a camera alert. While intended to identify stolen vehicles or criminal suspects, the letter identifies instances where errors led to mistaken identity, including a Florida woman who was jailed for 13 days due to an incorrect network match.
The investigation sets a precedent for how Congress may regulate the commercial application of surveillance data, particularly as Hawley noted the company’s $8.3 billion valuation creates pressure for new commercial uses of driver data. The inquiry also addresses the "knock-on" effects of automated alerts on police resources, as high false-positive rates—reported as 71 percent by one California department—can lead to unnecessary law enforcement interactions. Flock Safety has been requested to provide all relevant documents and information to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism by Sept. 8.