Local governments across the United States are reconsidering their use of automated license plate scanning technology. Privacy concerns and worries about federal immigration authorities accessing local databases are fueling these municipal discussions.
Municipal governments nationwide are wrestling with whether to continue using automated license plate scanning systems as privacy concerns mount.
The technology, which automatically captures and stores vehicle license plate information, has become a source of controversy in communities across America. Local officials are expressing growing unease about how the collected data might be used and who could gain access to it.
A primary concern driving these municipal debates centers on the possibility that federal immigration enforcement agencies could tap into locally-gathered license plate databases. This potential access to community surveillance data has prompted city leaders to question whether the benefits of the technology outweigh the privacy risks for their residents.