Ban federal funding for Flock cameras

Our Take

When a sitting member of Congress puts his name on a video titled "Ban federal funding for Flock cameras," it's worth paying attention. Rep. Ro Khanna is putting a spotlight on something we've been tracking for years: the quiet way federal grant dollars have helped bankroll a nationwide network of automated license plate readers, often with little public debate and even less oversight at the local level.

We don't know every detail of Khanna's proposal yet, and we're not going to speculate beyond what he's said. But the core issue is simple and one we keep hammering: taxpayer money, funneled through federal law enforcement grants, has helped a private company blanket American streets with cameras that track where you drive, when, and how often — all without a warrant. Cutting that funding pipeline wouldn't eliminate Flock, but it would at least force local police departments and city councils to own the decision and the cost, rather than hiding behind grant money that makes expansion feel "free."

Whatever happens in Washington, the fight over ALPR surveillance is still being won or lost in city council chambers and county commission meetings. Check our camera map to see what's already deployed near you, and head to take-action if you want to push back before the next grant check clears.