1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern about the widespread use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement agencies across our nation. These systems, particularly those provided by Flock Safety, pose a significant threat to our privacy and civil liberties. The scale of this surveillance is staggering. Flock Safety now has contracts with over 5,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, and their system scans over 20 billion license plates per month. This massive data collection effort is not just a local issue; more than 75% of agencies opt to share data with Flock's national database, creating a vast network of surveillance that tracks the movements of millions of Americans. The potential for abuse of this technology is alarming. There are already concerns about federal agencies using the system for immigration enforcement, which could lead to unjust targeting of vulnerable communities. The selling and sharing of people's movement and driving data is a clear violation of privacy that could be exploited for nefarious purposes. It's encouraging to see that some communities are pushing back against the use of these cameras. Activists are mapping and tracking the locations of Flock cameras, and some cities have canceled or paused their contracts with Flock after local protests. This grassroots resistance demonstrates that many citizens share my concerns about the erosion of privacy in our digital age. I urge you to take immediate action to regulate the use of ALPRs and protect our privacy rights. We need legislation that limits the collection, storage, and sharing of license plate data, ensures transparency in how this data is used, and provides strong safeguards against misuse. Our right to move freely without constant surveillance must be protected. Please prioritize this issue and work towards implementing strict regulations on ALPR technology. Our privacy and civil liberties are at stake, and we need our representatives to stand up for these fundamental rights.