AI Surveillance Network Expands

Thousands of cities across the US are adopting AI-connected Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), building surveillance infrastructure that tracks vehicle locations in real time.

The system collects license plates, vehicle images, and time data, storing them in the cloud and combining them with other law enforcement databases. Some vendors tout features that use AI to identify targets and send instant alerts.

According to reports, this technology has also been used for immigration enforcement, protest monitoring, and reproductive rights-related investigations. It's also pointed out as a problem that the US has no federal law meaningfully restricting the collection, storage, sale, or sharing of location and movement data.

The article notes that research proving effectiveness is limited, while installation and maintenance costs are high. Some states are also discussing regulatory bills that would restrict immigration investigations or data collection near medical facilities.