Musician, YouTuber, and investigative journalist Benn Jordan has become a prominent face in the modern surveillance and privacy debate following his extensive work investigating Flock Safety, a manufacturer of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and associated software. Jordan recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism regarding ALPR systems. His work has coincided with a wave of growing criticism, bipartisan backlash, and fallout for the company, resulting in hundreds of cities, counties, and local governments canceling their contracts with Flock. Additionally, Republican Senator Josh Hawley has launched an investigation into the company, and Reuters recently reported that Flock plans to reduce its workforce by about 18 percent. Based in Atlanta, where Flock cameras are dense per square mile, Jordan began investigating the technology after noticing the devices and discovering security vulnerabilities. In his interviews and advocacy, Jordan emphasizes that public frustration stems from an inability to opt out of local surveillance infrastructure that is funded by taxpayer money, contrasting it with consumer-facing tech products where users can choose not to participate. He argues that the broader issue involves a secretive relationship between private industry, government, and law enforcement that prioritizes secrecy over transparency, ultimately leaving citizens without a voice regarding street-corner surveillance networks and police access.
Benn Jordan on Flock, privacy, and the new surveillance backlash
Musician, researcher, and investigative journalist Benn Jordan has emerged as a prominent figure in the surveillance and privacy debate due to his investigations into Flock Safety, a maker of automatic license plate readers. Jordan recently testified before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee amid growing bipartisan backlash against ALPR systems. Following months of criticism, hundreds of local governments have canceled contracts, Senator Josh Hawley is investigating the company, and Reuters reported that Flock plans to cut about 18 percent of its workforce.
Why it matters
The backlash against surveillance networks like Flock Safety mirrors public pushback against AI data centers and data collection. It highlights growing tensions over privacy, transparency, and the intersection of private industry and government surveillance.