WWE Star Turned Mayor Issues Statement Urging Lawmakers To Prohibit Use Of “Flock Cameras And Similar Devices”

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, also known as former WWE wrestler “Kane,” issued a statement on Monday against the use of Flock Safety cameras and similar devices.

“I am urging our commission to prohibit the use of Flock cameras and similar devices in our county.
For those of you who don’t know, these cameras, technically called Automated License Plate Readers, are motion activated and take a picture of every vehicle which passes by,” Jacobs said.

“While License Plate Readers have been around for a while, because of AI and vastly increased networking and data retention capacities, these Flock cameras have capabilities not even imagined in the past. Older cameras only took a photo of your license plate, which was then retained for a short time. Flock cameras take a photo of your plate, but also use AI to catalogue distinguishing features of your vehicle: make, color, model, even bumper stickers,” Jacobs continued.

“That data is stored in a searchable database for sometimes up to a month or more, depending on the policies of that particular agency. When these cameras are deployed in large numbers, they create a network that can be used to track your movements. Currently, there is no federal regulatory framework governing these devices in place, and the Tennessee laws regulating them were written over a decade ago,” Jacobs said.

“My fear is that we may be inadvertently creating a warrantless mass surveillance system and undermining the privacy and liberty of our people. So I urge the Tennessee General Assembly and the United States Congress to look at this issue and take necessary action to safeguard our privacy and civil liberties as these new technologies continue to emerge,” he concluded.

Watch below:

Please see this video and press release regarding Flock cameras in Knox County.

Video transcript:
Hello, this is Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Today, I am urging our Commission to prohibit the use of Flock cameras and similar devices in our County.
For those of you who don't… pic.twitter.com/soDD4TNwN2

— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) July 27, 2026

WVLT has more:

Knox County Commissioner Adam Thompson released a joint statement alongside County Mayor Glenn Jacobs Monday, calling for a slowdown in the Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s planned rollout of more than 200 Flock cameras across the area.

““I appreciate our Knox County Sheriff’s Office and everything they do every day to keep our citizens safe,” Thompson said. “This technology erodes the privacy and constitutional liberties of Knox County residents. These devices need meaningful oversight, and complete transparency.”

Thompson said, much like Jacobs, the cameras pose a threat to security and privacy for those who live in Knox County. He also called for a pause on Flock camera use in the county.

“I presented the resolution formally requesting an in-depth presentation because people deserve to know this information. At this time, I do not believe this technology has a place in Knox County,” Thompson said. “This isn’t about being against law enforcement. I support our deputies and appreciate the difficult job they do every day. It’s about making sure the public understands what information is being collected, how long it’s being kept, who has access to it, and what safeguards exist to prevent misuse.”

The camera rollout is the product of a $1.5 million grant given to the sheriff’s office for increased policing. There’s no requirement to spend the money on cameras, and Thompson said some cameras had already been rollout out in ZIP codes outside of the grant’s scope.

“I was surprised to learn that several of these cameras had been installed in Corryton and Mascot, which is not one of the ZIP codes identified in the grant,” Thompson said.

Flock cameras read license plate information and create searchable databases of cars via images. How long that data is kept on file can vary, but the sheriff’s office has reported their models would only keep information for 30 days.

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Multiple Congress members have said they would introduce legislation to restrict the funding of Flock Safety cameras, including Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Thomas Massie (R-KY).

“Draconian” – GOP Congressman Wants To “Ban” Flock Safety Cameras

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“Great move Mayor,” Burchett responded to Jacobs.

“Appreciate your stand, Congressman, and look forward to working with you on this,” Jacobs said.

Appreciate your stand, Congressman, and look forward to working with you on this. https://t.co/LohtwqU0x7

— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) July 27, 2026

“I’ll soon be sponsoring a bill to withhold federal money from municipalities and police departments that deploy Flock (and other style) cameras to surveil law abiding citizens,” Massie said on Saturday.

I’ll soon be sponsoring a bill to withhold federal money from municipalities and police departments that deploy Flock (and other style) cameras to surveil law abiding citizens. pic.twitter.com/FGzE69psxS

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 25, 2026

The Center Square shared further:

Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett is proposing a bill called the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act that would eliminate federal funding for the Flock cameras. He said the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits warrantless searches.

“We should never choose between safety and liberty,” Burchett said in a video posted on social media. “We’ve got to keep our country safe, but we keep sacrificing some freedoms that define us.”

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Withholding federal funding from the police departments that rely on the technology would have real consequences for public safety, Flock Safety, the company that manufactures the cameras, said in a statement to The Center Square.

“In 2025, we estimate Flock technology supported more than one million public safety investigations, assisted in 20% of solved cases in jurisdictions that partner with Flock, and helped locate more than 10,000 missing people,” the company said. “Rather than banning a critical public safety tool, Congress should consider strong, clear safeguards that ensure accountability, oversight, and responsible use are enshrined in law. We do not have to choose between protecting privacy and giving law enforcement the tools it needs to keep communities safe. We can – and should – do both.”

In Georgia, several officers are facing charges related to the misuse of the cameras, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In one case, five Albany police officers are facing charges of misuse of license plate data and violation of their oath of office. They are accused of accessing the cameras several times for non-law enforcement purposes, according to the agency. The most recent arrest reported by the GBI involves a Conyers police dispatcher who is accused of accessing the cameras 30 times between April and July for non-law-enforcement purposes.

Lawmakers in the state of Washington passed a bill that regulates where cameras can be placed, how long agencies can retain data, who can use that information, and for what reasons. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson on March 30 and took effect upon his signing, according to the Legislature’s website.

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