Alex Padilla
Role at the time: U.S. senator from California, in a statement to Business Insider
Statement summary
Padilla said misreads from law enforcement use of license-plate cameras are deeply alarming, as are the mass surveillance capabilities they enable. He said technologies like Flock should only be deployed with strong safeguards that protect public safety and constitutional rights.
“inaccuracies stemming from law enforcement's use of this technology are deeply alarming, as are the mass surveillance capabilities that it enables.”
Business Insider reported that Flock misread plates in 71 percent of alerts sent to Roseville police in 2023 and 2024. Padilla gave the quoted statement to the outlet for the story. The statement's delivery date is not given; the record uses the publication date.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Padilla criticized misreads and mass surveillance capability while saying the technology should only be deployed with strong safeguards. Supporting continued use with safeguards fits Mixed or conditional, and his remedy is general guardrails rather than a warrant rule, funding cut or ban.