Hawley Bill Seeks Federal Limits On AI License-Plate Cameras
Sen. Josh Hawley introduced the Stop Flock Abuse Act on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to impose federal limits on AI-powered license-plate cameras and curb data abuses.[1]
The bill would force deletion of automatic license plate reader driver data within 10 days unless tied to a criminal investigation, and would bar sale or sharing of collected vehicle data.[1] It would ban facial recognition in these networks and require encryption and U.S.-only data storage.[1] Searches of ALPR data would need written approval and be tracked via audit logs to deter unauthorized use.[1]
An August 2026 investigation into Flock and other vendors raised concerns about how companies collect and use vehicle location data.[1] A recent Senate hearing sought answers, but executives from those companies declined to appear.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Sen. Josh Hawley introduced the Stop Flock Abuse Act targeting AI-powered license-plate readers.
- The bill would force deletion of ALPR driver data within 10 days unless it is connected to a criminal investigation.
- The legislation would prohibit sale or sharing of collected vehicle data, ban facial recognition in these networks, and require encryption and U.S.-only data storage.
- Searches of ALPR data would need written approval and be tracked via audit logs to deter unauthorized use.
- Hawley’s bill follows an August 2026 investigation into Flock and other vendors and a recent Senate hearing where those executives declined to appear.
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