Seth Bodnar, an independent Montana Senate candidate and former University of Montana president, released a campaign ad in which he shoots and destroys a Flock Safety camera to protest widespread surveillance. The ad highlights concerns about AI-driven license-plate readers and data use by law enforcement, and follows Flock’s announcement of a tool to flag "abnormal search behavior." Bodnar framed the act as a defense of privacy and tied the issue to broader worries about data centers and corporate influence.
‘Flock Off’: Montana Senate Candidate Shoots Flock Safety Camera in Provocative Campaign Ad
Seth Bodnar, an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana, takes a shot at a security camera in a campaign ad shared to social media on Monday. X
Seth Bodnar, an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Montana and a former University of Montana president, released a striking campaign video in which he shoots and destroys a Flock Safety security camera to protest the company’s surveillance practices.
In the social media clip, Bodnar — a U.S. Army veteran — captioned the footage: "Trump says he 'likes' Flock cameras. I say 'Flock off.'" The ad shows him mounting a camera on a tree stump, returning to his vehicle, removing a firearm and firing at the device from several feet away.
Why the Ad Matters
The spot comes amid growing national debate over Flock Safety, a U.S.-based firm whose network of AI-driven automatic license-plate readers has prompted privacy concerns and prompted some communities to sever ties. Critics worry about how law enforcement accesses and uses the data, including reports that local resources have been used to assist federal immigration enforcement.
Last month, Flock Safety announced platform changes — including a required tool to flag "abnormal search behavior" by law enforcement — in response to backlash, according to The Associated Press.
Political Context
Bodnar’s ad followed comments from President Donald Trump, who a day earlier said aboard Air Force One that he is "sort of" interested in Flock and acknowledged some view the software as an "infringement" on privacy even as he said he likes it. Bodnar, who has trailed Republican nominee Kurt Alme by roughly eight percentage points in recent polling, used the ad to highlight privacy risks and corporate influence.
"Getting groceries? They’re watching. Building a new deck? Going to church? Seeing a doctor? Buying ammo? They’re watching," Bodnar says in the ad, calling the camera network "creepy as hell."
He also tied the surveillance debate to concerns about data centers and local control, arguing that private companies and powerful interests profit while residents lose privacy and accountability.
Broader Campaign Trend
The clip is the latest example from the 2026 campaign season of candidates using dramatic visuals and pointed rhetoric to tap voter concerns about surveillance, privacy and corporate power. Whether the tactic boosts Bodnar’s standing remains to be seen, but it has already drawn attention to the debate over automated license-plate readers and oversight of surveillance technologies.
Reporting referenced: The Associated Press and HuffPost.
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