DeSantis Calls Flock License-Plate Cameras Unchecked as Florida’s Surveillance Grows

Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters that automated license-plate cameras such as those operated by Flock have become “out of control” in Florida and called for legislative safeguards to protect privacy. While emphasizing his backing of law-enforcement resources, he warned the state must avoid evolving into a surveillance state. Nonetheless, Florida’s police forces already rely on a broad suite of monitoring technologies, from license-plate readers and facial-recognition tools to predictive-policing algorithms, a trend accelerated by recent immigration-related funding.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Atlas of Surveillance maps this extensive usage across state agencies. Cases have emerged where the same systems were used to investigate environmental activists, a veteran who mailed a critical postcard, and a Miami Beach resident who posted criticism online. DeSantis also noted his earlier proposal for an “AI bill of rights” that has yet to pass the legislature, arguing that legislative action is the only way to address the issue.