The automated license plate reader has become one of the densest surveillance layers in the United States. TechSpot reports that these AI camera networks now log around 20 billion license plate scans every month, from more than 100,000 readers nationwide, the vast majority sold by Flock Safety.
A scan can capture a vehicle's color, make, model, and distinguishing marks down to bumper stickers and gun racks, stitched by AI into a searchable map of where a given car has been. Customs and Border Protection was granted access to over 80,000 Flock cameras, and plate databases have been shared with federal immigration agencies.
Since early last year, roughly 50 cities and counties have canceled their Flock contracts or switched the cameras off. Both privacy-minded liberals and data-wary conservatives are objecting to the mass snooping.
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