Proposed anti-Flock bills could spell trouble for license plate readers
Brief
Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are cameras that photograph passing vehicles, read their number plates, and typically log the time, location, and vehicle details. On their own, the images might be used to find a stolen car or locate a suspect.
But lately there have been a lot of concerns raised about the way they are used . The main worry is caused by what happens when many cameras feed data into a shared, searchable network: it can create a detailed record of where ordinary people travel.
Some agencies have already taken it upon themselves to act on these concerns , as well as those around inaccuracy. Data errors can have serious consequences. At a recent Senate hearing, Florida resident Lindsey Isaacs described being arrested and held for 13 days after data from an AI-enabled plate-reader system incorrectly implicated her in a fatal car crash.