The Senate Judiciary crime and counterterrorism subcommittee held a hearing on Wednesday regarding the AI surveillance network operated by Flock. The CEOs of Flock, Axon, Motorola Solutions, and Verkada declined to testify, though Verkada stated it provided information to the subcommittee.
The hearing featured testimony from cybersecurity experts, a sheriff who terminated a contract with Flock, and a Florida resident who spent 13 days in jail due to an incorrect vehicle identification by the company's cameras. Lawmakers focused on the storage of location data, which can be kept for up to one month.
Cybersecurity engineer Benn Jordan testified that he previously accessed Flock data with minimal effort, though he noted security improvements over the past year. Senators expressed concerns regarding potential access to this data by federal immigration authorities and the tracking of individuals crossing state lines for reproductive care or gun-related activities.
Subcommittee chair Josh Hawley stated that lawmakers are currently evaluating the technology and its implications. While Hawley expressed interest in hearing from the CEOs directly, he noted that issuing subpoenas would require a full committee vote, which has not yet been discussed.
