License plate readers keep expanding across the country while the political backlash grows louder in equal measure. Today's stories show the split screen clearly: some cities doubling down on camera networks, others moving to shut them off entirely, and lawmakers scrambling to catch up with rules on data sharing.
- Roseburg approves continued use of 15 license plate reader cameras despite privacy worries KPIC
Fifteen cameras approved again despite public pushback shows how often these votes become rubber stamps once the system is already installed.
- San Diego City Council poised to end Flock surveillance, and Mayor Gloria says he won’t veto San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego may become the biggest city yet to walk away from Flock, and a mayor unwilling to veto says plenty about where public opinion has moved.
- Monroe County lawmaker pushes for limits on license plate reader data sharing 13WHAM-TV
Limiting who can access plate reader data is a reasonable first step, but it only works if the limits actually get enforced.
- Burlington police use license plate reader alerts to recover stolen vehicles Yahoo
Recovering stolen cars is the easy sell for these systems; it is never the stolen car case that raises the privacy concerns.
- Manchester Police add Axon license plate reader KGAN
Another department adding Axon readers with no mention of policy or oversight is exactly the kind of quiet rollout that deserves more scrutiny.
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