San Diego sued over use of automated license plate readers

The City of San Diego and its police department are facing a lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court over the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs). The plaintiffs, the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans and the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties, allege that the technology constitutes an invasion of privacy protected by the California Constitution.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the city from using ALPRs, terminate associated contracts, uninstall streetlight cameras acting as readers, and delete all collected data. The plaintiffs argue that the high density of the approximately 500 cameras allows for mass surveillance and the creation of a searchable database that tracks the movements and associations of individuals.

Legal representatives noted that the cameras capture more than just license plates, including vehicle details and identifying features of occupants. The suit also highlights concerns regarding the accuracy of the technology, citing instances of wrongful identification.