Cops Used AI Cameras to Stalk Exes? 😳
The short version: A new video from The Alliance for Secure AI documents at least 26 cases of officers misusing ALPR systems to track exes, coworkers, and strangers — proof that 'crime-fighting' cameras are only as trustworthy as the people with the login.
Our Take
The Alliance for Secure AI just put a number on something we've been warning about for years: cops abusing license plate readers for personal reasons. Twenty-six documented cases of officers using these systems to track romantic partners, exes, and random people who caught their eye isn't a bug in the system — it's the system working exactly as designed, minus any real oversight. ALPR databases log where you go, when, and how often, and that's irresistible to anyone with a badge and a grudge or a crush.
What's most damning is the detail the video highlights: these abuses weren't caught by audits or internal controls. They came to light because victims noticed they were being followed and had the wherewithal to file complaints. That means the 26 known cases are almost certainly a floor, not a ceiling. Departments love to tout ALPR as a 'force multiplier' for public safety, but they're a lot quieter about the fact that the same database that flags a stolen car can just as easily be used to find out where your ex-girlfriend lives now.
This is exactly why blanket trust in these networks is misplaced, no matter how the sales pitch is framed. Credit to The Alliance for Secure AI for compiling these cases into one clear picture. If you want to see how dense this surveillance net already is in your own area, check our camera map, and if you're ready to push back on unchecked ALPR deployment in your city, our take-action page has concrete next steps.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of The Alliance for Secure AI, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.