Hawley Expands AI Surveillance Probe to Axon, Motorola and Verkada

By edisonreed // 2026-09-11

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Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has expanded his investigation into artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted surveillance systems, sending letters to the chief executive officers of Axon Enterprise, Motorola Solutions and Verkada. The letters, sent last week, inform these companies that they are now part of a probe that began with an inquiry into Flock Safety on Aug. 26, according to reports from Reclaim The Net [1]. Hawley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, is requesting a detailed accounting of the data collection and retention practices of these firms [1][3]. The move follows Hawley's announcement that he would investigate Flock Safety's automated license-plate readers. At that time, he stated, "Americans do not surrender their privacy rights when they drive to work, drop their kids off at school or go to church." [2] The new letters indicate the inquiry is widening to include major players in the broader surveillance technology market [1]. The companies have been asked to respond by Sept. 16 [1].

Probe Background and Legislative Context

The investigation centers on the collection, retention and dissemination of data generated by AI-powered cameras and vehicle-tracking technology [1]. In his letters to the new companies, Hawley wrote, "Flock does not stand alone in this industry; you and others are building large camera networks, assisted by artificial intelligence, that intrude on the privacy of all Americans" [1]. This framing suggests the senator views the issue as systemic rather than isolated to a single vendor [1]. The probe is examining not only what data is collected but also who can access it and under what conditions [1]. The investigation is part of a broader pattern of congressional scrutiny into how surveillance technology is being deployed domestically. Concerns have been raised about the normalization of surveillance and the erosion of privacy [4][5][7]. Hawley has been active in other areas of tech regulation, including sponsoring the GUARD Act, which would require age verification for AI chatbot users to protect minors [8][6]. The expansion of this probe indicates a sustained focus on the relationship between law enforcement technology and civil liberties [1][3].

Details Requested From Companies

The letters request specific information on the types of data the companies’ products collect [1]. This includes details on default data retention periods and the mechanisms by which customers can alter those settings [1]. The inquiry also seeks to determine whether customers can conduct searches on a statewide or nationwide basis, and what geographic scope is set as the default [1]. Hawley is also asking for documents describing any capabilities related to biometric tracking [1]. Furthermore, the probe is looking into potential data sharing agreements and security practices. Companies are asked to disclose whether their systems can link to data brokers or public record aggregators [1]. The letters request information on data sharing with other police departments, federal agencies, foreign governments, private entities and data brokers [1]. Hawley is also seeking a count of confirmed and suspected cases of system misuse since 2021, along with an explanation of how those cases were discovered [1].

Misuse Cases Cited by Hawley

In his letters, Hawley cited media reports detailing instances of misuse involving Flock Safety systems [1]. One case involved a civilian police employee in St. Charles County, Missouri, who was found to be using the system for personal searches during an audit [1]. Another case in Milwaukee involved a police officer accused of repeatedly searching license plates belonging to his girlfriend and her former boyfriend [1]. Hawley stated that these incidents demonstrate "a woeful lack of safeguards in these systems" [1]. He also pointed out that the Milwaukee case was not discovered by Flock’s own audit system [1]. The senator noted that the Supreme Court has ruled that comprehensive movement tracking differs from ordinary public observation, citing this as legal precedent for the investigation [1]. These incidents highlight concerns about the potential for abuse when law enforcement tools are used without sufficient oversight [2][3].

Additional Inquiries and Company Response

Beyond data access and misuse, the probe is also examining the technical accuracy of the systems. Hawley has requested information on error rates, including the frequency of false positives [1]. The letters also ask about the security measures in place to protect the data being collected [1]. Additionally, the inquiry seeks financial disclosures from the companies. Hawley is asking for a breakdown of revenue derived from government contracts and for information on lobbying expenditures [1]. As of the date the letters were sent, none of the three companies – Axon Enterprise, Motorola Solutions or Verkada had publicly commented on the inquiry [1].

References

Ken Macon. "Josh Hawley Expands AI Surveillance Probe to Three More Companies." Reclaim The Net. September 8, 2026.
100PercentFedUp.com. "Republican Senator Announces Probe Into Flock Cameras." August 27, 2026.
Reclaim The Net. "Senate Probes Flock Safety Over 20 Billion Vehicle Scans." August 28, 2026.
ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "Normalizing Surveillance From a Young Age: More Schools Using Facial Recognition and AI Technologies to Monitor Kids."
ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "Normalizing Surveillance From a Young Age: More Schools Using Facial Recognition, AI Technologies to Monitor Kids." December 22, 2023.
Patrick Lewis. "Lawmakers Debate the Future of AI and Online Privacy with New GUARD Act Proposal." NaturalNews.com. November 3, 2025.
NaturalNews.com. "Border Patrol Expands Surveillance Network: Secretive Program Monitors Millions of U.S. Drivers." November 22, 2025.
Reclaim The Net. "Senate Panel Backs GUARD Act, AI Age Verification Bill." May 1, 2026.

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