Trump Backs Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid Bipartisan Backlash
Trump Says He “Likes” Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid Bipartisan Pushback
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he “likes” Flock Safety’s surveillance cameras, offering his first public comments on a company whose AI-powered tools have become a flashpoint in the national debate over public safety, privacy, and government oversight.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump framed his view through a law enforcement lens while acknowledging the concerns that have driven growing political scrutiny of the technology.
“I sort of like them because of that, because of law enforcement, but some people don’t,” Trump said when asked about Flock cameras. “They think it’s an infringement. I like them.”
Flock’s products are commonly described as AI-enabled license plate readers, a category of surveillance technology that can be deployed widely by police departments and other agencies to capture and analyze vehicle data. The tools have drawn criticism from privacy advocates and some lawmakers who argue the systems’ scale and capabilities require clearer limits and public transparency.
Trump was also asked about AI-powered license plate readers more broadly, but did not offer a clear position on that broader policy question, according to the report.
The comments come as Flock and similar surveillance systems face mounting scrutiny in Washington. The technology has reportedly drawn a Senate investigation, and Sen. Bernie Sanders has pledged legislation addressing the issue. Separately, Rep. Thomas Massie has introduced a bill referred to as the “Flock-Off” act, underscoring that opposition is not limited to one party.
In Washington, D.C., the debate has spilled into local law enforcement politics. D.C. police union president Gregg Pemberton criticized the Metropolitan Police Department’s approach to the technology, calling for stronger oversight and disclosure.
“A system with such broad and extensive capabilities requires not only significant guardrails, but also full transparency with the public,” Pemberton said in a statement. “The MPD has provided neither.”
Flock Safety said last month that it would make changes related to anti-abuse safeguards after issues were raised involving the surveillance technology.
The dispute matters beyond a single vendor because it sits at the intersection of AI adoption and civil liberties—an area increasingly relevant to the broader tech landscape, including crypto-adjacent debates over data rights, transparency, and the balance between security and individual privacy.
