Bipartisan Scrutiny Mounts Over License Plate Readers and Data Misuse
License plate readers, including those from Flock Safety, are facing increased bipartisan scrutiny in Washington over privacy concerns and potential misuse of collected data.
Drivers across the country might be wondering about the data collected by license plate readers (LPRs) as these surveillance tools come under bipartisan fire. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are raising concerns about the privacy implications and potential misuse of information gathered by these cameras.
Spectrum News reported that this increased attention follows incidents of alleged misuse, including a Kentucky police officer reportedly tracking his ex-girlfriend over 2,000 times using an LPR system. This event prompted strong reactions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
What are lawmakers saying about LPRs?
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., criticized the tracking incident, stating on social media that it occurred with “No warrant. No probable cause.” Similarly, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called for an end to “AI MASS SURVEILLANCE,” specifically naming Flock Safety. Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed also voiced concerns, asking, “Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a cage being watched?”
These lawmakers are concerned that LPRs collect vast amounts of data on individuals not involved in any crime. Juliette Kayyem, a former Department of Homeland Security official, explained that while the systems are intended to match specific license plates to crimes, they also collect "all sorts of information unrelated to any crime."
In response to these concerns, a Flock Safety spokesperson stated the company “supports legislation that creates guardrails for how license plate recognition data is used and shared.” The company also indicated earlier this month that it was implementing changes to its platform to address privacy issues and document system abuses.
What does this mean for my data?
Despite Flock Safety's statements, some lawmakers believe the company's actions do not go far enough. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sent a letter to the company, citing a “woeful lack of safeguards” and questioning what happens to the data collected. Hawley has initiated an investigation into Flock Safety and requested documents from the company by September 8.
While acknowledging the importance of tools for law enforcement, the investigation aims to understand the scope of data collection and its handling. Flock Safety has stated it received Hawley’s letter and is prepared to provide “additional context about how our technology works.” The company maintains that its cameras have assisted in approximately 1 million police investigations.
As a driver, understanding where these cameras are located and how your data might be used is important. FlockDetour helps you locate these systems on our /map and provides background on how ALPRs operate on our /learn page. The outcome of Senator Hawley's investigation, with documents due by September 8, will likely shed more light on the future of LPR data handling and privacy regulations.