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.

Stories / Issue · Aug 4 – Oct 2, 2026

Privacy and Surveillance

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44Members · 30 D · 14 R
60Actions · 40 D · 20 R
24States & 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 95Wk ofAug 167Wk ofAug 238Wk ofAug 3012Wk ofSep 63Wk ofSep 136Wk ofSep 207Wk ofSep 278Total
Requested actionDeclarations, investigations, decisions 1
Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials 26
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 20
Other 1

Developing stories

4 threads · 15 of 60 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 23Britt (R) Sent letter to DOJ urging guardrails on Flock automatic license plate reader cameras.
  4. Sep 23Durbin questioned witnesses on Flock surveillance cameras and privacy protections in Senate hearing.
  5. Sep 23Padilla questioned Flock surveillance camera misuse for immigration enforcement at Senate Judiciary Committee 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 2Sanders, Merkley, Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation to prohibit federal use of automatic license plate readers.

5 actions →

Where they stand

Support · 17

  • ISanders VTIntroduced bill to ban AI-powered surveillance cameras and license plate readers
  • DMerkley ORIntroduced legislation to ban automatic license plate readers
  • RHawley MOIntroduced Stop Flock Abuse Act to regulate AI surveillance cameras
  • DGillibrand NYReintroduced Data Protection Act to establish federal data privacy agency
  • DPressley MAReintroduced legislation to halt government facial recognition use
  • 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
  • DRiley NYIntroduced legislation to ban sale of smart meter data and protect consumer privacy
  • DMcGovern MAIntroduced bill to regulate tech platforms and protect consumer privacy
  • RKennedy UTIntroduced bill to prohibit utilities from selling customer energy usage data
  • RFulcher IDCo-sponsored PRIVACY Act to protect citizens from surveillance
  • DKlobuchar MNPraised Meta settlement protecting children online
  • DLiccardo CAIntroduced legislation to prevent preferential data access sales
  • DHassan NHAdvanced bipartisan bill to expand health data privacy protections
  • RDavidson OHSupports ending beneficial ownership reporting requirements
  • RLankford OKDefended age verification laws to protect children online

Oppose · 24

  • DCasar TXDemanded answers on FBI's planned Flock camera acquisition
  • DOcasio-Cortez NYOpposes AI-powered automatic license plate reader surveillance technology
  • 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
  • DPadilla CARaised concerns about ICE access to Flock data
  • DDurbin ILQuestioned oversight of Flock surveillance cameras
  • 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
  • DSchakowsky ILUrged CPSC to suspend data collection on emergency department patients
  • DMullin CAOpposed CPSC's collection of identifiable emergency department patient data
  • RBurlison MOIntroduced bill defunding federal surveillance camera and license plate reader programs
  • 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
  • DBrown OHUrged GAO to investigate DOT's failure to enforce airline passenger privacy protections
  • RBlackburn TNOpposes TikTok's withholding of child safety features
  • RBiggs AZRequested GAO investigation into warrantless financial surveillance
  • DMannion NYOpposes federal surveillance of citizens criticizing ICE online
  • DWilliams GAOpposes sharing passenger data with immigration enforcement
  • DCantwell WAOpposes IRS-ICE data sharing as taxpayer privacy violation

What each party did · Democrats 40 · Republicans 20

  • 1Requested action0
  • 19Sent letters7
  • 3Hearings3
  • 1Statements0
  • 2Criticized1
  • 1Praised1
  • 13Filed or pushed bills7
  • 0Other1

Most active

  1. DWyden OR10
  2. RHawley MO6
  3. DMerkley OR4
  4. DMarkey MA4
  5. DJayapal WA4
  6. RCloud TX2
  7. DPressley MA2
  8. RBritt AL2

By state

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

+16 more with fewer actions

Every action

60 actions · 75 releases
  1. Oct 2, 2026
  2. Sep 30, 2026
    • Bill

      RHawley MO

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

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DGillibrand NY

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

      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
    • Hearing

      RBritt AL

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

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DSubramanyam VA

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

      Release ↗

  7. Sep 23, 2026
  8. Sep 18, 2026
  9. Sep 17, 2026
  10. Sep 16, 2026
  11. Sep 15, 2026
  12. Sep 14, 2026
    • Criticism

      DKaine VA

      Criticized DHS personnel for illegally accessing Virginians' personal information.

      Release ↗

  13. 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 ↗

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

      RFulcher ID

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

      Release ↗

  20. Aug 28, 2026
  21. Aug 27, 2026
    • 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 ↗

    • Statement

      DJayapal WA

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

      Release ↗

  22. Aug 26, 2026
    • Request

      DWyden OR

      Requested GAO investigation into Department of Transportation's failure to enforce airline passenger data privacy.

      Release ↗

    • Praise

      DKlobuchar MN $17B

      Praised Meta's $17 billion settlement with states for child safety reforms on social media.

      Release ↗

    • Letter

      RHawley MO

      Launched investigation into Flock Safety's AI surveillance cameras and data protection practices.

      ↳ Ban Flock Act · Release ↗

  23. Aug 21, 2026
    • Letter

      DWyden OR

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

      Release ↗

  24. Aug 20, 2026
    • Letter

      RBlackburn TN

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

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DLiccardo CA

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

      Release ↗

  25. Aug 19, 2026
    • Letter

      DPressley MA

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

      Release ↗

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

      DMannion NY

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

      Release ↗

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

      DJayapal WA

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

      Release ↗

  30. Aug 10, 2026
    • Letter

      DWyden OR

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

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DWilliams GA

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

      Release ↗

  31. Aug 7, 2026
    • Letter

      RLankford OK

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

      Release ↗

  32. Aug 6, 2026
    • Letter

      DCantwell WA

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

      Release ↗

  33. 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