Flock is in the hot seat in Washington, even if its CEO declined to actually face senators at a hearing about its "AI Surveillance Network" on Wednesday.

"There's many players in this industry, but there's one name that really stands out above the rest, and that is Flock," Senate Judiciary crime and counterterrorism subcommittee chair Josh Hawley (R-MO) said. "If you haven't heard of Flock, all I have to say is, Flock's probably heard of you."

Though the CEOs of Flock and peer companies Axon, Motorola Solutions, and Verkada declined to testify, according to Hawley, seats in the hearing room were in high demand. A standby line stretched dow …