GoKawiilThe surveillance infrastructure tracking American drivers has grown far more sophisticated than most people realize. What began as simple plate-logging technology has evolved into AI systems capable of identifying faces, flagging unusual travel patterns and building detailed movement profiles -- all without the knowledge of the people being watched. Companies such as Flock Safety now operate in communities across 49 states, and their data is accessible to thousands of law enforcement agencies, including federal immigration enforcement, according to civil liberties groups. State legislatures are among the few institutions actively writing rules around how these systems can be used, and what those rules say (or don't say) have real consequences for your privacy on the road.
That raises a large question: What are the best privacy protection laws? I wanted to provide more details for anyone wondering what to support or what their state is currently doing. One challenge is that every state is different, and there's no clear guide on what privacy laws work and which have flaws.
I spoke to Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel and lead for the American Civil Liberties Union's surveillance work, to find the best examples. These laws are making the biggest difference in our privacy.
"Collective action, rather than individual action, is required," Marlow told me. "I would caution that while Flock is the most problematic ALPR company in America, there are many other ALPR companies, like Axon and Motorola, that present serious privacy risks, so switching from Flock to Axon/Motorola ALPRs at best may constitute minimal harm reduction, but it is far from a solution."
Which of today's laws are a better solution? This is a "throw everything against the wall and see what sticks" situation. Let's talk about what's sticking.
The best laws on the books for limiting new surveillance technology
The details matter when it comes to laws against surveillance. Lawrence Glass/Getty
Current privacy laws focus on two recent capabilities of local law enforcement: ALPRs, or automatic license plate readers, that can identify and track cars, and drone surveillance equipped with AI cameras. Security companies, such as Flock, are also starting to offer more traditional cameras that can provide live views and track people from the ground.
With AI features like Flock's "Freeform" technology that let police enter any type of search they like to see what cameras bring up, these are powerful tools, and new legislation is required to address them. Let's go over several categories of laws that make a difference.
Laws restricting the use of AI detection features
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