Trump says he likes Flock cameras, even though some Americans see them as a privacy infringement: ‘Because of law enforcement’

A reporter pressed President Donald Trump about Flock cameras as he flew back from Ireland on Air Force One. The devices are used by police to scan license plates and match them against records tied to stolen cars, Amber Alerts, and missing persons.

“Flock cameras, you haven’t talked a lot about these Flock cameras. A lot of law enforcement say they really help them, would you be willing to back that?” the reporter asked. Trump said, “I sort of like ’em because of that, because of law enforcement.” He then said, “But some people don’t. They think it’s an infringement.”

When the reporter added, “They help catch a lot of criminals!” Trump replied, “But I like them.” He wrapped up the session after asking whether the reporters were enjoying the Dolly Parton and Elton John music he had playing on the plane.

Flock CEO tells Fox News a ban would miss the point

The cameras have been a subject of public argument for months. Flock CEO Garrett Langley responded to that criticism in a recent interview on Fox News. He said worries about privacy are fair, but he argued those worries overlook how the license-plate readers can also be used for good.

Speaking with Saturday in America co-host Kayleigh McEnany, Langley said, “I think these are important conversations to have.” He added, “I value my privacy… but what we’re talking about is safety as well. And so I think when people talk about just one of these things, privacy or safety, they’re prioritizing the wrong thing. What we have to prioritize as a country is compromise: how do we have our safety, and how do we balance privacy?”

McEnany said a large number of Americans have opposed Flock. She cited a man who objected at a city council meeting while dressed as Darth Vader. She also said the issue has drawn attention from both parties on Capitol Hill. Mediaite points out that Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) has sought to block federal tax money from paying for the cameras, while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has called for a full ban.

McEnany said the pushback followed cases in which the cameras made “mistakes,” plus three alleged incidents of officers accessing Flock data improperly. She said the company claims the technology has helped close 10,000 missing person cases and more than 1 million crimes.

Langley rejected the idea of banning the system and called that idea absurd, while saying he supports tighter rules. “That’s like banning vehicles. That would never have made sense,” he said. “Instead what we did is we introduced laws against drunk driving, laws around airbags.”

He said two issues should be settled next: how long the data may be kept, he recommended one week, and what penalties apply when officers access it improperly.