Indiana rep proposes ban on federal use of Flock camera data

Federal law enforcement agencies rely on vast databases to track vehicle movements, but a new bill seeks to cut that access. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana has introduced legislation to restrict how federal teams interact with private surveillance data.

The bill, known as the Don’t Spy on Me Act, targets vehicle fingerprinting databases. These systems match license plates with detailed vehicle descriptors, including make, model, color, body damage, and bumper stickers. Stutzman filed the measure earlier this fall to prohibit federal agencies from using these records.

The proposal follows local disputes in Fort Wayne, the largest city in Stutzman’s northeast Indiana district. The Fort Wayne Police Department ended its contract with Flock, a provider of automated license plate readers, after public controversy. Stutzman stated he was in contact with city leaders during that period.

Stutzman argues that the federal government should not treat Flock’s data as its own internal system. He noted that while he supports warrants for specific information, he opposes the ready availability of such data to any company or government body. “Personally, I would like to see Flock cameras outlawed altogether,” he said.

The congressman views this issue as a potential area for bipartisan cooperation in the new Congress, which will feature substantial Democratic majorities. He said both liberal and conservative special interest groups have opposed the use of these systems. Stutzman supports other law enforcement tools, such as body cameras and dash cams, but argues that general surveillance cameras everywhere may violate the Constitution.