Johnson supports limiting or banning Flock cameras until data restrictions exist
Ron JohnsonU.S. senator from Wisconsin, in a written statement to TMJ4
Johnson said Flock cameras could play an important law-enforcement role but are hard to defend given what is gathered and how it is used, and that he supports limiting or banning their use until appropriate restrictions are in place.
“until appropriate restrictions are placed on data gathering and usage, I support limiting or banning their use”
Reporting
Other statements by Ron Johnson in this case
- Johnson would limit or ban Flock cameras until restrictions existSame day: Mixed or conditional
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
TMJ4 interviewed Baldwin on camera; Johnson responded in a written statement. The story notes the federal Flock-Off Act had just been proposed. The report aired Sept. 5, 2026.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Johnson responded to TMJ4 in a statement after reporting on Flock camera misuse cases, including a Milwaukee officer charged with searching his girlfriend's plate 124 times. He said, "Flock cameras certainly could play an important role in law enforcement, but it is hard to defend their use," citing what information is gathered and how it is used.
After the quotation
He added the quoted support for limiting or banning the cameras until restrictions are placed on data gathering and usage.
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. Johnson said he supports limiting or banning the cameras until appropriate data restrictions are placed. When a speaker offers alternatives, the statement is placed on the milder remedy, which here is limiting use, so Mixed or conditional on the limit step.
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More from this case
Read the full caseJacob Burnett says Flock-style cameras should be done away with, with warrants required if they stay
“The systems themselves can be modified to prevent nearly all abuse and be made more secure by requiring warrants for access or follow through on any data the systems collect and have all data stored on the hardware itself preventing viewing from remote locations, requiring strict login credentials and a connecting warrant number to access. These are common sense changes that if the systems are to be used I feel could correct a lot of abuse or privacy concerns but I also feel the systems should be done away with overall, especially in the realm of predictive crime analytics.”Read statement
Dean Brewer, an independent candidate for Tennessee governor, says Flock cameras should be banned
“I believe flock cameras should be banned.”Read statement
Buddy Carter says license plate cameras help investigators but need privacy safeguards
“Technologies like license plate recognition cameras can provide valuable investigative tools, but they have also raised important questions about privacy and government oversight. As these systems become more common, it is important to balance public safety with appropriate safeguards that protect individual privacy.”Read statement
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- Johnson supports limiting or banning Flock cameras until data restrictions exist
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/3514-johnson-said-flock-cameras-could-play-an-important
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Johnson supports limiting or banning Flock cameras until data restrictions exist". First published: 2026-09-30. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/3514-johnson-said-flock-cameras-could-play-an-important