Senators unload on Flock surveillance cameras after tech CEOs skip hearing

Senators from both parties unloaded Wednesday on AI-powered automatic license plate readers capable of tracking people’s every movement, criticizing the likely infringement on privacy rights as the “surveillance network” faces backlash from communities across the country.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, had invited the CEOs of Flock Safety, Axon Enterprise, Motorola Solutions, and Verkada to testify about their ALPRs and the vast database of images they generate, but all four declined the senator’s invitation to Wednesday’s hearing.