Senators move to ban federal use of license plate cameras

A new Senate bill aims to stop the federal government from using or accessing data from automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), the surveillance tech widely sold by Flock Safety. The proposal, led by Bernie Sanders and co-sponsored by Jeff Merkley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, would block federal grants to local governments that keep the tech, and let citizens sue over violations. Current exceptions only cover tolls or future uses capped at 48-hour data retention.

• Covers all automatic license plate readers, not just Flock's
• Would cut grants to states using banned tech
• Allows lawsuits against federal violations
• Toll collection use still allowed, with strict limits
• Flock cameras scan over 20 billion vehicles monthly