Across the United States, political candidates from both major parties are increasingly focusing on Flock cameras, a network of AI-powered license plate scanners used by law enforcement to record and share vehicle data. These devices are deployed in over 6,000 communities nationwide, excluding Alaska, according to Flock Safety, the Atlanta-based company that operates the technology. In states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida, candidates are pushing for restrictions, bans, or stricter oversight of the cameras, citing concerns about privacy and potential misuse. Law enforcement agencies defend Flock cameras as an essential tool in crime prevention, citing that the system has helped solve around 1 million crimes and reunite approximately 10,000 missing people with their families. However, critics argue the widespread use of the technology constitutes unconstitutional surveillance without warrants. Legal groups, such as the Institute for Justice, are challenging the legality of the cameras, and some politicians are running on platforms that include banning the technology, cutting funding, or requiring warrants for its use. Flock Safety spokesperson MoMo Zhou has urged critics to "engage with the facts and the record," emphasizing the technology's role in public safety. However, investigative reports have raised concerns about potential misuse, including cases where law enforcement allegedly used the cameras to track personal contacts. In Texas, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has declared Flock cameras have "no place in Texas," while Pennsylvania’s governor and his Republican challenger both support a statewide ban. In Wisconsin, gubernatorial candidates are also targeting the technology, with proposals ranging from increased transparency to freezing state funding. Rhode Island’s governor temporarily halted new camera installations ahead of the September primary, citing privacy concerns, while in Michigan, a Democratic congressional candidate called the technology "the most un-American thing I can imagine." His Republican opponent is co-sponsoring legislation to restrict federal use of Flock cameras and block the use of federal funds for the technology. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the removal of automated license plate readers from state highways, and a Democratic Senate nominee’s campaign is promoting merchandise that reads, "FLORIDA NEEDS TO GET THE FLOCK OUT." Law enforcement advocates, including Mitchell Davis III of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, argue that removing the technology could harm public safety and that communities should focus on ensuring proper oversight rather than eliminating the cameras. Meanwhile, the controversy reflects growing public unease about artificial intelligence and the expanding role of technology in government. Critics see the Flock cameras as part of a troubling trend of government reliance on Big Tech, with some residents warning that such partnerships risk expanding government power at the expense of individual privacy.