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Florida has ordered the removal of automated license-plate reader cameras from state highways, giving local law-enforcement agencies 30 days to take them down. The Florida Department of Transportation also says it will stop issuing new permits for the systems.
The cameras, including those made by Flock Safety, photograph passing vehicles and record licence plates, vehicle details and timestamps. Police argue that the technology can be extremely useful for finding stolen cars, locating missing people and solving crimes. But critics have increasingly raised concerns about privacy, data sharing and the possibility of the technology becoming a tool for mass surveillance.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has generally been strongly supportive of giving police more technological tools, has himself said the spread of the cameras had become “out of control.” His concern is that technology designed to investigate criminals could eventually create detailed records of ordinary people’s movements.
The decision follows a growing backlash across the United States. Several cities and police departments have cancelled or suspended their Flock contracts, while reports of officers misusing the systems have intensified concerns about oversight.
The cameras aren’t disappearing everywhere: Florida’s order applies specifically to state-highway rights-of-way, not every road in the state. But the decision sends an important message.
Technology can make policing more effective. But effectiveness isn’t the only question. Privacy, accountability and public consent matter too.
And when governments are willing to step back from surveillance technology because citizens have raised legitimate concerns, that’s worth celebrating.
