President Donald Trump voiced his open support for Flock Safety’s artificial intelligence-powered surveillance system. He delivered his remarks directly while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump acknowledged public concerns that the surveillance cameras represent an infringement on citizens’ privacy. However, he dismissed privacy criticisms, stating he favors Flock’s technology because it has proven effective in aiding law enforcement.
The president’s support comes as the operational scale of the camera network is revealed to the public.
Scanning 20 Billion Movements Every Month
Flock Safety has currently deployed over 120,000 cameras across 6,000 communities throughout the United States. Utilizing computer vision technology, this optical network actively scans approximately 20 billion vehicle movements every month.
A media investigation uncovered the software layer behind Flock’s vehicle-reading engine. The report revealed that the company developed an artificial intelligence software called Flock OS Investigate. The automated analysis system, which previously operated under the name Nightshift, processes billions of recordings from public roadways.
Flock OS Investigate is equipped with 69 built-in search parameters designed to trace movement patterns and routes of target vehicles. The daily vehicle tracking functions operate fully without requiring the system to read license plate numbers or identify the driver behind the wheel.
The company’s analytics tools also target vehicles surrounding the primary surveillance subject. Flock’s search feature detects associate vehicles captured on camera, flagging connections based on how frequently two different cars appear on the same camera within a narrow two-minute window.
Senate Launches Investigation into Citizen Data
Senator Josh Hawley responded to the widespread data collection with congressional scrutiny. Serving as chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, Hawley officially opened a formal investigation into surveillance technology providers.
The investigation directly focuses on Flock’s citizen data management practices. The subcommittee’s probe also expands its scope to audit operations of other surveillance vendors supplying route-tracking artificial intelligence.
The Senate inquiry brings traffic security systems into the legislative spotlight, sparking debate over the trade-off between crime-tracking tools and an individual’s right to drive without automated route pattern surveillance.
Reported by Decrypt.
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