A new report is drawing renewed attention to the expansive surveillance network being built by automated license plate reader cameras operated by private companies, with the Flock Safety platform named specifically as a system that is capturing and retaining location data on millions of American drivers without their knowledge or meaningful consent. The cameras, which have been installed in thousands of neighborhoods, shopping centers, and roadways across the country, continuously photograph passing vehicles and log their location and time in searchable databases that can be accessed by law enforcement and, in some cases, private clients.
Privacy advocates have raised serious concerns about the scope of data collection these systems enable, arguing that the cumulative effect of tracking vehicle movements across large geographic areas amounts to a form of mass surveillance that has significant implications for civil liberties. Supporters of the technology, including many law enforcement agencies, argue that license plate readers are valuable tools for solving crimes and recovering stolen vehicles. The debate over appropriate limits on automated vehicle surveillance is becoming increasingly urgent as the technology becomes more widespread and the databases grow larger.