# US license plate reader privacy concerns > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-license-plate-reader-privacy-concerns > Updated: 2026-08-18T17:55:40.000Z. Sources: 35. Developments: 4. Concerns regarding privacy and surveillance capabilities have led to pauses in the deployment of advanced automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology in parts of the United States. In Ramapo, the police department halted a test of new ALPR technology. Police Chief Daniel Hyman noted that while existing cameras help identify stolen vehicles, the new systems provide advanced investigative analytics that require further consideration regarding “constitutional protections.” In Connecticut, Governor Ned Lamont and state legislators have urged municipalities to pause the installation of new safety cameras and ALPR systems, such as Flock cameras, following public anxiety. Concerns involve how surveillance data is shared with out-of-state authorities and the potential use of data for immigration enforcement or to track individuals seeking reproductive or gender-affirming healthcare. In response, West Hartford officials confirmed a 30-day pause on new installations. The scrutiny has expanded to Rhode Island, where Governor Dan McKee ordered a 60-day pause on the installation and activation of new ALPR cameras across the state. This pause is intended to facilitate a review by the Department of Public Safety to establish uniform standards for technology and data management. While existing cameras will continue to operate, McKee requested that municipalities also pause new installations. Debate continues surrounding manufacturer Flock Safety, which has installed approximately 120,000 cameras nationwide. While proponents view the technology as essential for solving crimes, critics and the ACLU warn of “dragnet” surveillance. Reports of misuse, including an officer in Arizona tracking his wife and arrests in Georgia for similar data misuse, have prompted agencies in Virginia to pause or restrict system access. Activists have also organized movements like DeFlock to map camera locations and advocate for the removal of surveillance equipment. ## Claims - Flock Safety claims its automated license plate readers are tools for law enforcement rather than mass surveillance. (disputed) - The ACLU characterizes license plate scanning technology as a form of mass surveillance. (disputed) - Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley stated that drone technology is the company's fastest-growing business segment. (single source) - Flock Safety has developed an AI tool, OS Investigate, capable of identifying drivers and tracking vehicle movement patterns. (single source) - The Lynchburg Police Department has temporarily paused its use of fifteen fixed Flock ALPR cameras to address community feedback. (single source) - An Apache Junction officer was found to have misused Flock technology to track his wife's location. (single source) - The Henry County Sheriff's Office in Virginia has disabled deputy access to Flock cameras due to privacy and misuse concerns. (single source) - The DeFlock app allows users to map the locations of automated license plate readers to monitor surveillance. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-18: Flock Safety faces scrutiny over privacy and misuse of ALPR technology Flock Safety faces nationwide backlash over its license plate reader technology, with reports of police misuse and new AI capabilities sparking intense privacy and mass surveillance debates. 25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/flock-safety-license-plate-cameras-spark-privacy-debate ### 2026-08-18: Rhode Island Governor orders pause on new license plate reader cameras Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has ordered a 60-day pause on new automated license plate reader installations to review privacy, transparency, and data collection standards. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rhode-island-governor-orders-pause-on-new-license-plate-reader-cameras ### 2026-08-11: Connecticut Governor urges pause on new license plate reader cameras Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has urged municipalities to pause the installation of new license plate readers and safety cameras due to significant privacy concerns and data-sharing risks. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/connecticut-governor-urges-pause-on-new-license-plate-reader-cameras ### 2026-08-10: Ramapo Police halt advanced license plate reader test over privacy concerns Ramapo Police have suspended testing of advanced license plate readers over privacy concerns, amid reports that such technology in New Jersey can also detect wireless signals from nearby mobile phones. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ramapo-police-halt-advanced-license-plate-reader-test-over-privacy-concerns --- Cite as: US license plate reader privacy concerns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-license-plate-reader-privacy-concerns