<p>President Donald Trump endorsed the use of Flock cameras by law enforcement despite bipartisan criticism regarding their surveillance capabilities. During a conversation aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump stated, “I sort of like them because of that, because of law enforcement. But some people don’t. They think it’s an infringement.”</p>
<p>When a reporter mentioned that the technology assists in arresting criminals, Trump reiterated, “I like them.” This endorsement marks Trump's first public support for Flock cameras, which have faced scrutiny from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers due to privacy concerns.</p>
<p>The cameras utilize artificial intelligence to scan license plates and compile data into a large database, raising significant privacy issues. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed concerns last month, leading to the Florida Department of Transportation blocking the installation of automated license plate readers along state highways. DeSantis remarked, “These cameras that are out there now — who’s to say they’re only doing the license plate? Now, they say that. I think it’s capturing people in their cars. I think it’s capturing way more information than they’re letting on. And you’ve seen the abuse.”</p>
<p>While Flock cameras have aided police in apprehending suspects, some officers have faced disciplinary actions for unauthorized database searches, including instances of stalking. Flock cameras are now present in nearly every state, except Alaska, since the company's founding in 2017.</p>
<p>In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro recently called for a bipartisan bill to ban the use of Flock cameras statewide, a request that Flock Safety has dismissed. At the federal level, there are at least two bills aimed at regulating license plate readers similar to those produced by Flock Safety. Trump is unlikely to support such legislation.</p>
<p>Last month, Trump indicated that Flock cameras were “being studied” by his administration, suggesting that the White House may issue a report on the technology in the future.</p>