"The use of automatic license plate readers has exploded across the country in recent years. The cameras on roads and freeways that take images of the back of passing cars are popular with police for solving crimes. But as President Trump's immigration enforcement crackdown has escalated in recent months, residents of various American cities are urging local leaders to stop using these cameras, citing fears of mass surveillance and concerns that local data could be aiding a federal deportation dragnet."
"Some cities have grappled with the issue and decided to keep their cameras due to public safety, but in a number of places, the pressure has worked. The liberal college towns of Flagstaff, Ariz., Cambridge, Mass., Eugene, Ore. and Santa Cruz, Calif., are among a list of at least 30 localities that have either deactivated their Flock cameras or canceled their contracts since the beginning of 2025 with much of the activity happening in just the last three months."
"Police have praised license plate readers for helping officers track down stolen cars and find criminal suspects. The cameras have been credited with assisting in solving high profile crimes, including locating the body of the Brown University shooting suspect at a New Hampshire storage facility in December. Flock's AI-powered cameras scan license plates as well as vehicles' identifying details, such as make, model and color, that police can use as search terms."
Automatic license plate readers have proliferated nationwide and are popular with police for tracking stolen cars and suspects. Growing concerns about mass surveillance and federal immigration enforcement have prompted grassroots campaigns to pressure cities to deactivate cameras, especially those made by Flock Safety. At least 30 localities, including Flagstaff, Cambridge, Eugene and Santa Cruz, have deactivated or canceled Flock contracts since early 2025, with many changes in the last three months. Activists map over 76,000 readers and expect momentum to continue. Police and proponents cite public safety benefits, while critics warn of data sharing risks.
Read at www.npr.org
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