(Part 1 of 3): As the number of automated license plate readers grows every year, so does the controversy around them as more go online.
State data shows more than 1,100 ALPRs are in use on Maryland roads, collecting license plate numbers and important data that can be used to pinpoint a person’s location.
What do the cameras collect?
The AI-assisted cameras snap pictures of vehicles every time they pass by, which can help investigators create detailed maps showing when and where the vehicle travels.
As the technology becomes increasingly common, the controversy around Flock cameras grows amid those raising questions about government surveillance or whether it’s an important tool for investigators.
“They provide camera systems specifically for automated pictures for license plates,” said Brian Deehring, an associate professor of cybersecurity at Anne Arundel Community College. “Mass surveillance is something that a lot of people don’t want.”
ALPRs can be mounted on traffic lights, light posts and poles — and they don’t get here by accident.
Where are the cameras?
Flock Safety is the name most people associate with this technology, but the landscape is vast, with dozens of companies...