MADISON, Wis. – State Representative Calvin Callahan, Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection, is calling for Wisconsin to ban the unchecked use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras by government agencies, citing serious concerns over privacy, mass surveillance, government overreach, and the collection and sharing of information about law-abiding citizens.

“What was sold to us as a targeted public safety tool has rapidly evolved into something far more invasive and sometimes out of control, with reports of misuse, mistaken stops, and access to data that should concern every Wisconsinite.”

Callahan also announced that he intends to use his authority as Chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee to hold a hearing on surveillance cameras when the Legislature returns in January, putting the technology and its use in Wisconsin under legislative scrutiny.

“The government does not need to know where you’re going, when you’re going there, or how often you go,” said Rep. Callahan. “You should not have to surrender your privacy simply because you got behind the wheel of your car.”

Flock cameras and similar systems automatically capture license plates and other vehicle information as motorists travel on public roads. Callahan says that regardless of the stated purpose, Wisconsin should be extremely skeptical of any surveillance system, not just Flock, capable of creating searchable records of citizens’ movements simply because they drove down a public street.

“Come January, I intend to use my power as Chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee to start asking some serious questions about Flock cameras in Wisconsin,” Callahan said. “Who has access to this information? Where does it go? How long is it kept? Who is it shared with? And most importantly, why should government have the power to track law abiding citizens who are suspected of absolutely nothing?”

Callahan said he is willing to examine whether there is a narrowly tailored path forward for the technology when law enforcement is investigating serious criminal activity. However, he said any such system must include meaningful judicial oversight and clear warrant requirements rather than allowing government agencies unrestricted access to all movements of any citizen.

“I trust our law enforcement officers. What I don’t trust is a surveillance system without adequate checks and accountability. I refuse to accept the idea that sacrificing privacy is simply the price of living in a modern society,” Callahan said. “If these cameras cannot operate with warrants, judicial oversight, strict limits on data retention and real accountability, then they have no business operating in Wisconsin. Come January, the Consumer Protection Committee is going to put this surveillance system under the microscope.”