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Public disputes over automated license-plate readers, searchable vehicle-location records, and the use or prohibition of networked camera systems.
Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.
2 statements on this page. Dates: April 23, 2026 to September 2, 2026
2 matching statements. Dates: April 23, 2026 to September 2, 2026
2 published statements. Dates: April 23, 2026 to September 2, 2026
2 published statements. Dates: April 23, 2026 to September 2, 2026
2 statements on this page. Dates: April 23, 2026 to September 2, 2026
Role at the time: U.S. representative from Kentucky
Statement summary
Massie proposed cutting federal funding for automated license-plate readers, with specified border and toll exceptions.
“Federal taxpayers should not be forced to fund the surveillance state.”
Bill announcement, funding scope, exceptions, and sponsor quotations
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Massie said federal taxpayers should not be forced to fund the surveillance state and proposed cutting federal funding for the readers, with border and toll exceptions. A funding cut that leaves other uses open fits Mixed or conditional.
Role at the time: U.S. representative from Kentucky
Statement summary
Rep. Thomas Massie introduced the Surveillance Accountability Act, which would require a warrant for government searches and says its exceptions do not allow warrantless collection or querying of plate-reader data.
“The Bill of Rights is not a suggestion, and Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless searches conducted by the government are not optional. The Surveillance Accountability Act requires government employees to first obtain a warrant based on probable cause before searching Americans’ personal information—even if the information sought is stored on a phone, in the cloud, or held by a third party. Warrantless searches are unconstitutional, and this does not change when the data the government seeks is in digital formats or held by a third party.”
Release from Rep. Thomas Massie's office announcing H.R. 8470 with Rep. Lauren Boebert as co-lead. It quotes both members and says the bill would prohibit warrantless use of license plate reader systems tied to individuals, with exceptions such as consent and exigent circumstances.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Massie's bill would require a warrant before the government collects or queries plate-reader data, rather than banning the systems, which fits Mixed or conditional.
