The ACLU just sued the city of San Diego and its police department, arguing that their automated license plate readers (ALPRs) violate the right to privacy under the California Constitution.
CBS 8 reports the lawsuit, filed on behalf of a local community group, targets the city's network of Flock Safety cameras. ACLU Legal Director Frederick Carroll warns these aren't just logging license plates—they capture vehicle colors, bumper stickers, driver tattoos, and even kids walking past schools.
This tracking has sparked major pushback:
- "Get the Flock Out" Rallies: Locals have been actively protesting, and one resident even made national headlines by dressing up as Darth Vader at a city council meeting to mock the surveillance.
- A Growing Trend: San Diego isn't alone. The ACLU has already challenged this technology in places like San Jose, Oregon, and West Virginia.
- Dropping the Cameras: The pushback is working elsewhere—Santa Cruz completely canceled its Flock contract, and Los Angeles removed the cameras too.