Senator Sanders Introduces Bill to Bar Federal Use of Automated License‑Plate Readers

Senator Bernie Sanders has put forward a bill that would bar the federal government from using the surveillance system called Flock and would also expand the prohibition to cover every automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) technology employed by federal agencies.

Presented in a congressional filing, the proposal aims to seal a loophole that critics argue permits wide‑ranging, real‑time vehicle tracking without sufficient supervision. By singling out Flock and then extending the ban to any automated system that records and retains license‑plate information, the measure intends to rein in what legislators call unchecked government surveillance.

Supporters contend that ALPRs, capable of scanning and recording thousands of plates each hour, pose serious privacy risks. The information gathered can be merged with other data sets to construct comprehensive movement profiles of people, often without their awareness or permission. Under the bill, agencies would have to remove current installations and would be barred from new purchases unless Congress passes a distinct, narrowly defined exemption.

Advocates cite an expanding body of research and civil‑rights campaigning that underscores the uneven effect of widespread vehicle tracking on marginalized groups. They observe that law‑enforcement bodies have come to depend on ALPRs for tasks ranging from finding stolen cars to surveilling protest gatherings, muddying the distinction between lawful policing and intrusive monitoring.

Critics, among them a number of federal law‑enforcement officials, argue that the technology serves as an essential asset for public safety and that an outright prohibition could impede investigations. They maintain that current privacy protections—like limits on data retention and mandatory audits—adequately mitigate worries without needing to discard the tool altogether.

The legislation now moves to committee, where a partisan divide is anticipated. Should it pass, it may establish a benchmark for wider limits on governmental deployment of emerging surveillance tools, spurring comparable bills in state legislatures. The discussion highlights a broader national dialogue on reconciling security goals with civil liberties amid ever‑more advanced data‑gathering technologies.