A growing bi-partisan chorus is calling to restrict or outright ban automated license plate readers, or ALPR cameras like Flock, in Pennsylvania – and across the country.
Democratic state senate candidate Eileen Hartnett Albillar has called on incumbent Republican Frank Farry (SD-6) to remove himself as a co-sponsor from Senate Bill 933 – legislation that would expand automated license plate readers like Flock cameras on roadways and PennDOT-owned infrastructure across Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvanians deserve safe communities, but they also deserve privacy, accountability and transparency. Sen. Farry should remove his name from this legislation instead of helping expand a surveillance network that puts enormous amounts of personal data into the hands of Big Tech,” Hartnett Albillar said.
SB 933 is sponsored by Republican Sen. Joe Picozzi, (SD-5). Farry is among six GOP co-sponsors on the legislation.
Farry said in an email request for comment that this bill is “vital” for law enforcement and is not yet a finished product.
“The bill, if it ever has a vote, will be amended to include stricter data policies and protections for the public. Having spoken to numerous local law enforcement leaders and prosecutors over the last several years has shown the systems to be what they term as a vital resource for their investigations,” said Farry. “Additionally, anyone violating the intended use of the readers should face swift and substantial penalties for their crimes.”
READ: State Lawmakers Push Legislation to Protect Pennsylvanians Against Flock Camera Surveillance Abuses
He did not specify what types of amendments would be added to any proposed legislation, should it move through the process; or what type of penalties would be associated with abuses of the technology by software firms and product users.
“No Pennsylvanian should have to wonder whether every trip to work, church, a doctor’s office, or a political event is being logged, analyzed, and stored indefinitely,” Hartnett Albillar said. “As AI becomes more powerful every day, we should be asking tougher questions about who controls our data, how it is used, and what safeguards exist to prevent abuse.”
Farry said the use of plate surveillance helped track down the shooter in a Bensalem killing in 2023; as well as a 2025 Bensalem Township arson and attempted murder of six people by a Michigan man.
The controversial use of Flock cameras and other surveillance products is heating up nationwide amid alleged abuses by law enforcement and others.
Hartnett Albillar alleged the Farry-supported legislation would pave the way for “rapid process installation” of the contentious technology, amid rising bi-partisan calls against the tech.
Bucks County Beacon previously reported state House Rep. Jim Prokopiak (HD-140) is among seven co-sponsors of a circulating memo aimed at protecting Pennsylvanians from misuse of license plate reader data by Flock and others.
Democratic state Representatives Tarik Khan (HD-194), Jennifer O’Mara (HD-165), Napolean J. Nelson (HD-154), Nathan Davidson (HD-103), Ben Waxman (HD-182), Prokopiak (HD-140), Emily Kinkead (HD-20) and Republican Rep. Robert Leadbetter (HD-109) are among those supporting a proposal for protective legislative restrictions.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a press conference that PennDOT does not currently use Flock cameras or other license plate data readers.
“No Pennsylvanian should have to wonder whether every trip to work, church, a doctor’s office, or a political event is being logged, analyzed, and stored indefinitely.” – Democratic State Senate Candidate Eileen Hartnett Albillar
“I think law enforcement needs to have tools to keep communities safe. Flock cameras are not a tool that I support,” Shapiro said.
Hartnett Albillar said SB-933 does not address concerns from Pennsylvanians about unchecked expansion of mass surveillance technology, and the role of private companies like Flock in “collecting, storing and analyzing sensitive location data” for travelers using commonwealth roadways.
Privacy advocates warn these systems are able to monitor daily activities. The software can create “detailed location histories and dramatically expand government surveillance with limited public oversight” Hartnett Albillar said.
Voters head to the polls on Nov. 3 to decide who will represent them in Bucks County’s 6th State Senate District, currently held by Republican Farry.
