How License Plate Readers Are Normalizing Mass Surveillance
From EFFector by Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
April 8, 2026 · 39 min
About this episode
The episode discusses how license plate readers contribute to mass surveillance in communities under the guise of crime prevention.
All across the country, police have convinced communities to pay for mass surveillance systems like license plate readers, claiming they will help stop the most serious crimes. But once these ever-watchful electronic eyes are installed in your city, it's not just violent criminals they're recording—it's everyone.
Topics covered
- mass surveillance
- license plate readers
- police technology
- community safety
- privacy concerns
Keywords
- license plate readers
- mass surveillance
- police
- privacy
- crime prevention
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Electronic Frontier Foundation, police
Places: communities, your city
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