Luxembourg Interior Minister faces criticism over license plate recognition bill

Luxembourg's Interior Minister, Léon Gloden, is facing intense political pressure following a critical advisory from the Council of State regarding a proposed law on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). The Council of State formally opposed the text, citing structural deficiencies and warning that the lack of clear regulations could lead to continuous surveillance across the entire national territory.

The proposed system would use cameras to photograph license plates, vehicles, and occupants to combat organized crime, terrorism, and assist in locating missing persons. However, the Council of State criticized the imprecise nature of the deployment rules and the proposed 28-day data retention period, which is longer than the 15-day limit used in France.

The political party déi Lénk has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the bill, describing it as a poorly drafted project that threatens fundamental rights. While Minister Gloden maintains the tool is a modern and proportionate measure to enhance security without creating a surveillance state, the Council of State maintains that the current framework threatens constitutional public liberties.