Congress is out of session until Monday, November 9 for the midterm campaign. No new roll-call votes until then; the last were the House on Sep 16 and the Senate on Sep 30.

Issues / Issue · Aug 4 – Oct 2, 2026

Privacy and Surveillance

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49Members · 33 D · 16 R
64Actions · 41 D · 23 R
28States & territories · OR · MO · MA · IL lead
8Bills named

How the conversation moved

Democrat Republican · one dot = one action
Action typeWk ofJul 5Wk ofJul 12Wk ofJul 19Wk ofJul 26Wk ofAug 24Wk ofAug 96Wk ofAug 167Wk ofAug 238Wk ofAug 3012Wk ofSep 63Wk ofSep 136Wk ofSep 209Wk ofSep 279Total
Requested actionDeclarations, investigations, decisions 1
Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials 28
HearingsHeld, testified or questioned 6
StatementsResponses to news 1
CriticizedA policy, decision or person 3
PraisedCredit for a decision or person 2
Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed 22
Other 1

Developing stories

4 threads · 16 of 64 actions

Flock Surveillance Camera Misuse

6 members

  1. Sep 17Wyden, Schiff pressed Flock CEO for answers on surveillance technology abuse and privacy protections.
  2. Sep 18Hawley (R) invited surveillance company CEOs to testify on AI-powered camera networks.
  3. Sep 23Padilla questioned Flock surveillance camera misuse for immigration enforcement at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
  4. Sep 23Britt (R) Sent letter to DOJ urging guardrails on Flock automatic license plate reader cameras.
  5. Sep 23Durbin questioned witnesses on Flock surveillance cameras and privacy protections in Senate hearing.

6 actions →

Ban Flock Act

6 members

  1. Aug 26Hawley (R) launched investigation into Flock Safety's AI surveillance cameras and data protection practices.
  2. Aug 28Hawley (R) announced investigation into Flock surveillance camera network over privacy concerns.
  3. Sep 2Massie (R) introduced bill to prohibit federal funding for automated license plate readers and biometric cameras.
  4. Sep 15Krishnamoorthi introduced bipartisan bill to restrict law enforcement abuse of automated license plate reader systems.
  5. Oct 2Merkley, Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders introduced the Ban Flock Act to prohibit federal use of AI-powered surveillance cameras.

5 actions →

Facilitating Liberty and Accountability for Flock Observations Act

4 members

  1. Sep 25Steube (R) introduced bill to prohibit federal agencies from using automated license plate reader surveillance without warrants.
  2. Sep 28Hawley (R) chaired hearing on Flock cameras and automated license plate readers, calling for federal regulation.
  3. Oct 2Casar, Brown demanded FBI transparency on plans to purchase Flock mass surveillance camera systems.

3 actions →

Where they stand

Support · 20

  • DMerkley ORReintroduced bill to establish national privacy rights for car owners
  • ISanders VTIntroduced bill to ban AI-powered surveillance cameras and license plate readers
  • DGillibrand NYReintroduced Data Protection Act to establish federal data privacy agency
  • RHawley MOIntroduced Stop Flock Abuse Act to regulate AI surveillance cameras
  • DPressley MAReintroduced legislation to halt government facial recognition use
  • RSteube FLIntroduced bill requiring warrants for license plate reader surveillance
  • DMarkey MAReintroduced bill to halt government use of facial recognition
  • RRicketts NEIntroduced Agricultural Data Privacy Act to protect farmers' data ownership
  • DKrishnamoorthi ILIntroduced bipartisan bill to prevent license plate reader abuse
  • DMcGovern MAIntroduced bill to regulate tech platforms and protect consumer privacy
  • RKennedy UTIntroduced bill to prohibit utilities from selling customer energy usage data
  • DRiley NYIntroduced legislation to ban sale of smart meter data and protect consumer privacy
  • RFulcher IDCo-sponsored PRIVACY Act to protect citizens from surveillance
  • DBlumenthal CTPraised settlement as accountability, demanded permanent safeguards across all platforms
  • DKlobuchar MNPraised Meta settlement protecting children online
  • RBlackburn TNPraised settlement as accountability, demanded permanent safeguards across all platforms
  • DLiccardo CAIntroduced legislation to prevent preferential data access sales
  • RDavidson OHSupports ending beneficial ownership reporting requirements
  • DHassan NHAdvanced bipartisan bill to expand health data privacy protections
  • RLankford OKDefended age verification laws to protect children online

Oppose · 26

  • DCasar TXDemanded answers on FBI's planned Flock camera acquisition
  • DOcasio-Cortez NYOpposes AI-powered automatic license plate reader surveillance technology
  • DBrown OHDemanded answers on FBI's planned acquisition of Flock surveillance systems
  • RStutzman INIntroduced bill to prohibit federal vehicle fingerprinting databases
  • RCloud TXUrged Trump to address ATF gun registry database
  • DTlaib MIReintroduced bill to ban government use of facial recognition and biometric technology
  • DJayapal WAOpposes government use of facial recognition and biometric technology
  • DDurbin ILQuestioned oversight of Flock surveillance cameras
  • DPadilla CARaised concerns about ICE access to Flock data
  • DWarnock GAUrged guardrails on state and local Flock camera use
  • DWyden ORDemanded Flock implement safeguards to protect civil liberties
  • DSchiff CADemanded Flock implement safeguards to protect Americans' civil liberties
  • DWarner VAOpposes federal medical records collection for employment actions
  • DKaine VAOpposes DHS officials unlawfully accessing personal voter information
  • DClarke NYDemanded end to Medicaid data sharing with ICE
  • RBurlison MOIntroduced bill defunding federal surveillance camera and license plate reader programs
  • DSchakowsky ILUrged CPSC to suspend data collection on emergency department patients
  • DMullin CAOpposed CPSC's collection of identifiable emergency department patient data
  • RMassie KYOpposes federal funding for surveillance cameras
  • RBoebert COOpposes surveillance systems as erosion of liberty and privacy rights
  • DRamirez ILOpened inquiry into TSA-ICE data sharing for potential privacy violations and safety concerns
  • RBiggs AZRequested GAO investigation into warrantless financial surveillance
  • DMannion NYOpposes federal surveillance of citizens criticizing ICE online
  • DPallone NJPressed airlines for details on surveillance pricing
  • DWilliams GAOpposes sharing passenger data with immigration enforcement
  • DCantwell WAOpposes IRS-ICE data sharing as taxpayer privacy violation

What each party did · Democrats 41 · Republicans 23

  • 1Requested action0
  • 21Sent letters7
  • 3Hearings3
  • 1Statements0
  • 2Criticized1
  • 1Praised1
  • 12Filed or pushed bills10
  • 0Other1

Most active

  1. DWyden OR10
  2. RHawley MO6
  3. DMerkley OR4
  4. DMarkey MA4
  5. DJayapal WA4
  6. DBrown OH2
  7. RCloud TX2
  8. DPressley MA2

By state

  • OR14
  • MO7
  • MA7
  • IL6
  • NY5
  • WA5
  • CA5
  • VA4

+20 more with fewer actions

Every action

64 actions · 82 releases
  1. Oct 2, 2026
  2. Sep 30, 2026
    • Bill

      RStutzman IN

      Introduced bill prohibiting federal vehicle fingerprinting databases from Flock cameras.

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DGillibrand NY

      Introduced legislation to create independent federal agency protecting Americans' data from tech and AI companies.

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      RHawley MO

      Announced legislation to establish safeguards for AI-powered surveillance cameras.

      Release ↗

  3. Sep 29, 2026
    • Letter

      RCloud TX

      Sent letter to Trump urging action on ATF's centralized gun records database.

      Release ↗

  4. Sep 28, 2026
  5. Sep 25, 2026
  6. Sep 24, 2026
    • Bill

      DSubramanyam VA

      Introduced bipartisan bill to require explicit written consent for telemarketing robocalls.

      Release ↗

    • Hearing

      RBritt AL

      Questioned automatic license plate reader technology at Senate hearing, raised misuse concerns.

      Release ↗

  7. Sep 23, 2026
  8. Sep 22, 2026
    • Letter

      DWarnock GA

      Sent bipartisan letter urging Attorney General to provide guidance on preventing Flock camera misuse by law enforcement.

      Release ↗

  9. Sep 18, 2026
  10. Sep 17, 2026
  11. Sep 16, 2026
  12. Sep 15, 2026
  13. Sep 14, 2026
    • Criticism

      DKaine VA

      Criticized DHS personnel for illegally accessing Virginians' personal information.

      Release ↗

  14. Sep 11, 2026
    • Letter

      DWyden OR

      Requested Portland AI camera firm explain use of university footage in promotional video.

      Release ↗

    • Letter

      DWyden OR

      Urged UK court to lift secrecy around reported demand for Apple encryption backdoor.

      Release ↗

  15. Sep 9, 2026
  16. Sep 4, 2026
  17. Sep 3, 2026
  18. Sep 2, 2026
  19. Sep 1, 2026
  20. Aug 31, 2026
    • Bill

      RFulcher ID

      Co-sponsored bill requiring federal warrants for state and local surveillance data access.

      Release ↗

  21. Aug 28, 2026
  22. Aug 27, 2026
    • Statement

      DJayapal WA

      Stated Meta settlement confirms dangers of Big Tech surveillance to children.

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DMarkey MA

      Called on Congress to pass COPPA 2.0 and Youth AI Privacy Act following Meta's $18 billion settlement.

      Release ↗

    • Letter

      DBrown OH

      Called for GAO investigation into DOT's failure to protect airline passenger data.

      Release ↗

  23. Aug 26, 2026
  24. Aug 21, 2026
    • Letter

      DWyden OR

      Requested GAO investigation into federal law enforcement's use of hacking and spyware on Americans.

      Release ↗

  25. Aug 20, 2026
    • Bill

      DLiccardo CA

      Introduced bill to bar social media companies from selling advance access to government information.

      Release ↗

    • Letter

      RBlackburn TN

      Pressed TikTok on withholding safety features from millions of child users.

      Release ↗

  26. Aug 19, 2026
    • Letter

      DPressley MA

      Demanded Trump administration end policies targeting political dissent and left-leaning groups.

      Release ↗

  27. Aug 18, 2026
  28. Aug 17, 2026
    • Letter

      DMannion NY

      Sent letter to DHS Secretary demanding answers on federal agents tracking ICE critics.

      Release ↗

  29. Aug 12, 2026
  30. Aug 11, 2026
    • Letter

      DJayapal WA

      Requested GAO investigation into federal warrantless surveillance of Americans' bank records.

      Release ↗

  31. Aug 10, 2026
    • Bill

      DWilliams GA

      Co-sponsored bill to ban ICE from accessing TSA passenger data for deportations.

      Release ↗

    • Letter

      DWyden OR

      Called for GAO investigation into warrantless federal surveillance of Americans' bank records.

      Release ↗

  32. Aug 7, 2026
    • Letter

      RLankford OK

      Sent letter to Pornhub defending age verification laws to protect children from explicit online content.

      Release ↗

  33. Aug 6, 2026
    • Letter

      DCantwell WA

      Joined amicus brief opposing IRS-ICE data sharing agreement on taxpayer privacy grounds.

      Release ↗

  34. Aug 4, 2026

Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works