Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis moved to block the use of license plate reader (LPR) cameras on state roads, amid growing backlash against the now-ubiquitous technology made by companies such as Flock Safety. Critics have raised concerns about privacy and potential abuse enabled by the cameras, and there have been reports of police misuse in Florida and other states.
A memo from the Florida Department of Transportation to local law enforcement agencies stated that the authority to use the cameras on state roads is being withdrawn.
“While Florida law limits the issuance of permits for LPR systems to law enforcement agencies, the recent exponential increase in deployments along our roadways, coupled with concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes merit immediate action to preserve Floridians’ sovereignty and quality of life,” FDOT Chief Operating Officer Will Watts wrote in the memo.
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DeSantis told reporters Monday, “No one has given law enforcement more tools than we have, but they need to be targeted at criminals. If they can create a dossier on your movements, they would be able to make a fortune in selling that to companies for advertising and product placement.”
“I don’t think it’s their intent to do general surveillance, but I will tell you, if we had all this around the country when COVID happened, you absolutely would have seen those turned on people who were outside of lockdown orders in California,” DeSantis added. He also said that while local sheriffs have used the technology effectively, the potential for abuse is too great.
“You also have to say, how can this be misused?” DeSantis said. “I don’t think we have really strong penalties at all for that type of misuse.”
The memo said local law enforcement agencies that previously received permits to use the cameras must take them down within 30 days. The memo also states that no additional permits will be issued going forward.
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“Further, as of the date of this memorandum, the Department will use its discretionary authority to cease the issuance of all future requests for LPR systems within its jurisdictional authority,” Watts wrote.
Meanwhile, last week, a U.S. Senate subcommittee launched a formal investigation into Flock Safety, demanding internal records and data management policies from the artificial intelligence surveillance firm following concerns about law enforcement misuse and false arrests.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, sent a letter Wednesday to Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley. The letter argued that the Atlanta-based company has built an unprecedented nationwide surveillance system without explicit congressional authorization.