What happened
On August 26, 2026, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, opened a formal investigation into Flock Safety's network of over 120,000 AI-powered license-plate-reading cameras, demanding documents and information by September 8, 2026, citing concerns that the AI system's data collection and identity-matching capabilities may violate privacy protections and lack congressional authorization. Sen. Bernie Sanders separately pledged (Aug 26) to introduce federal legislation targeting the same company and AI-driven mass surveillance more broadly.
Why it matters
This is a bipartisan congressional investigatory action targeting a specific, widely-deployed AI surveillance system, and could produce the first federal legislative proposal specifically addressing AI-powered mass surveillance infrastructure — a category currently governed by no dedicated federal statute.
Action needed
Flock Safety and law-enforcement customers of AI-powered ALPR networks should prepare documentation on data retention, access controls and audit systems; watch for a possible Sanders bill introduction and any Judiciary Committee hearing dates.