Brown, Casar Demand Answers on FBI’s Plan to Buy Mass Surveillance Systems, Including Flock Cameras

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) sent a letter demanding answers and transparency from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel on the FBI’s planned increase of mass surveillance systems, such as Flock.

Brown and Casar both serve on the House Committee on Oversight. Brown is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, Casar is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement. 

In May 2026, the FBI issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to acquire automatic license plate readers (ALPR) systems, including Flock and Motorola Solutions, that offer the ability to search for license plate information “and other descriptive data such as vehicle description information, time/date criteria, and geo-location criteria.” Flock and Motorola Solutions, whose ALPR systems are used by local police departments, likely possess the capabilities to satisfy this RFP. While the FBI already runs a License Plate Reader (LPR) program through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) to facilitate LPR information sharing with and between its law enforcement partners, the FBI’s plan to obtain direct access to an extensive network of cameras—such as those operated by Flock and Motorola—would dramatically expand the license plate data currently held by the FBI and institute “near real time” surveillance of civilians. 

The Members of Congress write: “The American people are clearly concerned about law enforcement having access to Flock data and about government surveillance more broadly. Entering into a contract that would give the nation’s largest law enforcement agency access to Flock data across the country would subvert the clear preference of the American people.”

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee Democrats are requesting information by October 16, 2026.
Read the full letter here.

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