Burlison targets ‘Big Brother’ surveillance with federal funding threat
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Southwest Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison says he is working on legislation that would withhold federal funding from communities that use automatic license plate readers and other broad surveillance technology.
Burlison told Newstalk KZRG Friday the proposal would target the technology as a whole, not just Flock Safety cameras.
“This is not just people that have got a warrant or criminals. This is all of us,” Burlison said. “They’re collecting data, they’re storing that data.”
He is working on that legislation with Kentucky's Thomas Massie.
Burlison said the systems raise Fourth Amendment concerns because they can collect information on people who are not suspected of crimes and use artificial intelligence to identify patterns.
Under the proposal, communities that implement the technology could lose access to federal grants.
“If you’re going to implement these cameras in your community on the state or the county or the city level, then you will not be receiving federal dollars,” Burlison said.
Burlison acknowledged the technology can help police solve crimes but said constitutional protections should come first.
“That always is the debate — is safety more important than freedom?” Burlison said. “And I err on the side of freedom.”
He also warned surveillance concerns could grow as drones, artificial intelligence and robotic patrol systems become more common.
Burlison later discussed an upcoming congressional hearing on efforts by some communities to restrict natural gas use, arguing Missouri already has protections preventing local governments from banning legal fuel sources.
