The Disturbing New Method Law Enforcement Uses to Monitor Your License Plates Even If You're Innocent | Carscoops

      Drones equipped with license plate readers are becoming more prevalent across the United States, causing concerns about widespread surveillance, diminished privacy, and a looming future that feels increasingly present.

      Police departments are adopting drones, with Motorola reporting that 81% of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. have initiated or are exploring drone programs. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is highlighting these developments and advocating for regulatory measures.

      License plate readers are evolving into aerial technologies, collecting vast amounts of data on unsuspecting motorists. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has noted that some police departments are employing drones that feature automated license plate readers, mentioning the Flock Safety Aerodome, which is marketed as the "future of air support for public safety."

      According to Flock Safety's Rahul Sidhu, this technology is described to law enforcement clients as a “flying LPR [License Plate Reader] camera.” This aligns with the company's focus on license plate reading as well as gunshot detection technologies.

      In fact, Flock Safety claims that over 5,000 law enforcement agencies utilize their license plate readers, alongside more than 6,000 communities and over 1,000 businesses. This vast network results in “billions of monthly plate reads,” establishing it as the “largest fixed LPR network” in the nation, and they appear to be aiming to extend that network into the aerial domain.

      Flock Safety is not the only company in this sector; Axon and Motorola Solutions are also advocating for the concept of “drone as first responder.” Motorola emphasized that “81% of police agencies in the U.S. currently have or are pursuing a drone program.”

      These developments have sparked privacy concerns, as law enforcement is amassing billions of data points about individuals who aren’t engaged in any criminal activity. The EFF pointed out that "LPRs frequently make errors, leading to police stopping the wrong vehicles and alarming innocent drivers.” They also raised concerns over instances where police officers have misused law enforcement databases to track individuals seeking abortions across state lines.

      This alarming situation has prompted the EFF to urge communities to implement restrictions on the deployment of drones and license plate readers by police. They also called on officials to be more vigilant, as approval of drone programs could inadvertently endorse the implementation of airborne license plate reading systems.