Merkley calls normalized surveillance, including Flock cameras, a threat to privacy and freedom
Jeff MerkleyU.S. senator from Oregon, answering a question at a Parkdale town hall
At an Oregon town hall, Merkley said he opposes facial recognition technology and that expanded surveillance authorities after Sept. 11 helped normalize technologies including Flock cameras used by law enforcement. He called the situation a huge threat to privacy and freedom.
“It's all a huge threat to privacy and freedom in America.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?
Networked automated license-plate readers record passing vehicles and let agencies search or share travel records across locations. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to prohibit these networks, keep them with legal limits, or defend their use for investigations. This tracker records attributable positions on that choice, including proposals that would affect only public funding or data access.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Local outlet's account of Merkley's Feb. 6, 2026 town hall in Parkdale, Oregon. The Flock reference comes in his answer to a question about a land transfer, data centers and surveillance. CNN cameras recorded the event.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
An audience member at the Feb. 6 town hall raised concerns about a U.S. Forest Service land transfer to The Dalles, alleging it would feed data centers and contribute to surveillance of Americans. Merkley said he opposes facial recognition technology and warned that the federal government lacks meaningful AI policies.
After the quotation
He said surveillance authorities expanded after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, including provisions of the Patriot Act, have helped normalize facial recognition technologies, including Flock cameras used by law enforcement agencies. He said AI policy must be debated openly on the Senate floor.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Merkley criticized surveillance normalization that includes Flock cameras but named no remedy for the cameras themselves, so the statement is placed with critical statements that do not name a remedy.
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Cite this record
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Merkley calls normalized surveillance, including Flock cameras, a threat to privacy and freedom
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/3509-at-an-oregon-town-hall-merkley-said-he
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Merkley calls normalized surveillance, including Flock cameras, a threat to privacy and freedom". First published: 2026-09-30. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/3509-at-an-oregon-town-hall-merkley-said-he