Florida’s transportation department revoked local police departments’ authority to install license plate reader cameras on state highways Monday, part of a growing national backlash against Flock Safety and other surveillance camera makers.
\n\nNBC News reports that Will Watts, chief operating officer of the Florida Department of Transportation, sent a one-page memo to local law enforcement agencies rescinding all previously issued approvals for license plate readers in state “rights-of-way,” the strips of land next to or part of state roads. Watts cited a “recent exponential increase” in camera deployment and pointed to “concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes” as reasons for the reversal. The goal, he wrote, is “to preserve Floridians’ sovereignty and quality of life.”
\n\nThe order makes good on a promise Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made Friday on the Real America’s Voice podcast. “We’re going to clear the state right-of-ways,” he said, adding that he doubts the cameras only capture plates. “These cameras that are out there now, who’s to say they’re only doing the license plate?” he said. “Now, they say that. I think it’s capturing people in their cars. I think it’s capturing way more information than they’re letting on. And you’ve seen…
Original source: https://www.breitbart.com/tech/
