King would pause license-plate cameras until the public gets clarity
David D. KingIndependent write-in candidate for governor of Wisconsin, in an interview with Dispute Index
King said Flock-style cameras violate people's rights and that he does not like them, but would accept a search for a specific vehicle, as in an Amber Alert. As governor, he said, he would pause them until the public has clarity on their purpose.
“I don't like them because of the fact that it is violating our rights. ... I don't like them at all. ... I support the police. ... if they had a particular vehicle they're looking at ... then yes. ... But if you're just using it to everybody and there's no real threat, then that's the problem. ... Yeah, I think we would have to so that we can get clarity.”
Interview
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
Interview
About this source
We interviewed King by phone on October 21, 2026, after a request for comment about Flock-style license-plate cameras. He knew the call was being recorded. The quotations are our transcription of that recording, which we hold.
Before the quotation
Graham Weller of Dispute Index asked King where he stands on police use of automated license-plate readers, whether he would accept searches of the camera records with a judicial warrant, and whether as governor he would put a moratorium on the cameras while gathering facts.
After the quotation
King said he would weigh testimony from other states about misuse and lives saved, rather than rely on the companies that make the cameras. He described himself as a strong supporter of law enforcement and of people's rights and privacy.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to whether networked license-plate surveillance should exist, King says the cameras violate people's rights and objects to using them on drivers who pose no threat, but accepts searches for a specific vehicle and says he supports police, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional. On the remedy ladder this is Pause: asked whether he would put a moratorium on the cameras while gathering facts, he said he would.
- Recorded on
- Published here
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
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- King would pause license-plate cameras until the public gets clarity
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/6430-king-said-flock-style-cameras-violate-people-s
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "King would pause license-plate cameras until the public gets clarity". First published: 2026-10-28. Last updated: 2026-10-28. https://disputeindex.com/events/6430-king-said-flock-style-cameras-violate-people-s