Rep. Greb Steube (R-FL) has called for a ban on the use of Flock Group Inc. cameras, criticizing the technology as a threat to the citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights.
GOP Leader Says Flock Cameras Were Misused in His District
In a post on X on Saturday, Steube slammed the technology as he shared a clip from an appearance on News Nation. “If law enforcement wants to use Flock technology to catch criminals, GET A WARRANT,” Steube said in the post.
He pointed to the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits searches or seizures by law enforcement without a warrant issued by a Judge.
“The Fourth Amendment still exists to my knowledge…” he said. In the clip, Steube said that he had recorded an incident of “an officer in Sarasota who was using it [flock cameras] hundreds of times to surveil his ex-wife and watch where his ex-wife was going to and from,” he said, responding to the use of the technology that led to an ISIS-inspired threat being identified by New York officials.
“We’ve already seen this surveillance technology allegedly misused and abused right here in my district. BLOCK THE FLOCK!” He said.
The company’s AI-powered license plate readers have been at the center of criticism and privacy concerns, with critics of the technology saying that it impedes citizens’ privacy and puts them under constant surveillance. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also expressed his concerns with the technology.
Flock CEO Compares Banning Cameras To Banning Vehicles
In an interview with Fox News on Saturday, Flock CEO Garrett Langley defended the technology, touting it as an essential tool to help law enforcement curb criminal activities and ensure law and order.
“I think when people talk about… privacy or safety, they’re prioritizing the wrong thing,” he said. “What we have to prioritize as a country is compromise,” he added, touting a balance between safety and privacy.
“I think about legislation that calls for an outright ban; that’s like banning vehicles. That would never have made sense,” Langley said.
Notably, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) had earlier received backlash for announcing a partnership between its Ring cameras and Flock. Following the backlash, the e-commerce giant said it was ending its partnership with Flock.
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