Former Pentagon AI Chief Warns Flock Cameras Could Create China-Like Surveillance State
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 5
Former Pentagon AI Chief Warns Flock Cameras Could Create China-Like Surveillance State
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 5
Summary
Mark Beall said expanding Flock Safety’s AI-powered license plate cameras without strict limits could push U.S. communities toward a “China-like surveillance state.”
Beall argued the cameras can aid criminal investigations, but only if courts and clear rules constrain access, storage and potential officer misuse.
Flock cameras have already drawn backlash in some neighborhoods, with protests, vandalized poles and privacy complaints over how vehicle data is collected and used.
The scrutiny has spread across party lines: Bernie Sanders has proposed a ban, Tim Burchett wants federal funding cut, and Florida ordered readers removed from state highways.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley has urged regulation rather than bans, backing seven-day retention limits, audits and accountability as AI surveillance policy hardens nationwide.