Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), introduced new legislation on Friday aimed at curbing the use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). Known as the Ban Flock Act, the proposed bill targets the widespread use of surveillance technology that tracks vehicle movements across the country.

The legislation contains two primary components. First, it would explicitly ban all federal agencies from utilizing ALPR systems. Second, it creates a financial incentive for local and state jurisdictions to follow suit by pausing federal grant funding to any government entity that maintains contracts for these surveillance tools. Proponents of the bill argue that the technology poses significant privacy risks to citizens, while the legislation specifically targets the company Flock Safety, which is a major provider of these camera systems.

While the bill has been introduced in Congress, it faces an uncertain path toward passage. The legislation highlights an ongoing debate regarding the balance between public safety, law enforcement investigative tools, and individual privacy rights. Currently, the bill is limited to federal restrictions and the leverage of federal funding, meaning it does not directly outlaw the use of ALPRs by private entities or local governments that do not rely on federal grants. No counter-arguments from law enforcement groups or the manufacturers of the technology were included in the initial announcement of the bill.