Automated License Plate Readers: Surveillance Creep Under the Guise of Safety

• Surveillance companies have deployed tens of thousands of automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras across the U.S., supposedly for public safety.
• These networks have evolved into pervasive tracking tools, often used by authorities for low-level investigations such as noise complaints.

Surveillance Mission Creep

• ALPR systems are increasingly subject to "mission creep," where technology marketed for high-stakes law enforcement is repurposed for minor surveillance tasks.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is highlighting how these systems infringe upon privacy by tracking the movements of innocent individuals.

Ongoing Advocacy

• EFF Associate Director of State Affairs Rindala Alajaji discussed findings on police ALPR usage in the latest issue of the EFFector newsletter and podcast.
• Current advocacy efforts include fighting for facial privacy and providing Congressional testimony regarding the risks of AI and surveillance technologies.