Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced a bill bringing to light Americans’ concerns of surveillance technology.
H.R. 10221 blocks any efforts made to “purchase, lease, acquire, install, deploy, maintain, repair, replace, upgrade, or operate a covered camera system or any associated component.” It further blocks federal funds from being used to “enter into, renew, extend, modify, administer, or make a payment under any contract, subscription, license, memorandum of understanding, data-sharing agreement, cooperative agreement, or other similar arrangement” involving surveillance technology.
The legislation also directs that any cameras installed through federal funds be removed.
“The federal government shouldn’t provide ‘security’ grants to cities and police departments that have gone beyond the pale and turned their communities into a version of 1984,” Massie said in a statement. “The Flock-Off Act withholds federal money from municipalities and police departments that deploy Flock cameras to surveil law-abiding citizens. Federal taxpayers should not be forced to fund the surveillance state.”
Massie’s bill comes as both Texas and Florida have moved to block Flock cameras from state systems. During a recent press conference, DeSantis said the surveillance network posed by license plate readers is “out of control,” and noted that “people are right to be concerned.” Similarly, Texas Governor Greg Abbott pulled state funding for Flock camera systems.
While the anti-surveillance actions are being taken by conservative leaders, a Fox News investigation found that a prominent network behind the anti-camera movement is connected to the progressive “No Kings.” According to the report, the same figureheads behind the anti-Trump, anti-ICE, and anti-Elon Musk efforts are now at the center of data center and license-plate reader protests.
