alpr.watch
Your local government might be discussing surveillance tech like Flock cameras, facial recognition, or automated license plate readers right now. This map helps you find those meetings and take action.
Why this matters: Municipalities across the US are quietly adopting surveillance technologies in rapidly growing numbers with over 80,000 cameras already out on the streets. These systems track residents' movements, collect biometric data, and build massive databases of our daily lives.
alpr.watch scans meeting agendas for keywords like "flock," "license plate reader," "alpr," and more. Each pin on the map shows where these conversations are happening so that you can make a difference.
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Statistics
Understanding Mass Surveillance
What is ALPR?
Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems use cameras and artificial intelligence to capture, read, and store license plate data from every passing vehicle.
These systems work 24/7 creating a massive database of where vehicles, and by extension, people, travel. Every trip to the grocery store, doctor's office, or place of worship gets recorded and stored.
What is Flock Safety?
Flock Safety is one of the largest manufacturers of ALPR cameras in the United States, marketing their systems to neighborhoods and law enforcement.
Flock cameras capture license plates, vehicle make/model, color, and other identifying features. This data is shared across a massive network of agencies and jurisdictions, creating a surveillance web that tracks millions of Americans.
The Slippery Slope
History shows that surveillance systems expand beyond their original scope:
- Systems marketed for "solving crimes" get used for immigration enforcement
- Temporary programs become permanent infrastructure
- Data sharing agreements grow to include more agencies
- Technology advances enable new invasive uses
- Regulations and oversight consistently lag behind deployment
Organizations Fighting for Your Privacy
These groups and individuals are leading the fight against mass surveillance. Consider supporting their work or getting involved locally.
Leading nonprofit defending digital privacy and civil liberties. eff.org
Fighting surveillance overreach through litigation and advocacy nationwide. aclu.org
Digital rights organization mobilizing grassroots opposition to surveillance. fightforthefuture.org
Litigating against invasive surveillance in New York and beyond. stopspying.org
This civil liberties law firm has filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Flock's mass, warrantless surveillance ij.org
Check for privacy advocacy organizations in your area fighting surveillance at the local level.
