WAMU 88.5
: News
Law enforcement agencies say license plate recognition systems increase public safety, but American Civil Liberties Union affiliates from 35 states, including Virginia and Maryland, are raising questions about what the devices mean for privacy.
The ACLU is asking police and state agencies to better explain how they use automatic license plate readers.
"The concern is that tracking peoples' location may reveal private things about their lives, such as what friends, doctors, protests, political events or churches they visit," says Rebecca Glenberg, the legal director of the ACLU of Virginia. Glenberg says another concern is that the data may be stored indefinitely.
"We recognize that this technology can be legitimately used for narrowly tailored law enforcement purposes like identifying vehicles that are stolen or involved in a crime," she adds.
The ACLU also sent information requests to the departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Transportation for information on how the federal government funds and uses information collected by the license plate readers.
Law enforcement agencies say the devices are a useful tool in enhancing public safety.
Brooks: 'I'm An EGOT; I Don't Need Any More'
The screenwriter, producer, director and actor, whose name has become synonymous with American comedy, talks about his penchant for spoofs and his decades-long friendship with Carl Reiner. Brooks is the subject of a new American Masters documentary on PBS.Washington State Butcher Spikes Pig Feed With Weed
Despite its name, the "pot pig" experiment isn't an attempt to develop a new meaty treat for stoners. Instead, a Seattle butcher is feeding marijuana seeds, stems and root bulbs to swine as a cheeky money-saving measure.Turnabout Is Fair Play: Senators Have Many Questions For IRS
The IRS gave some conservative groups extra, improper scrutiny. Now there's a bipartisan request for the IRS to answer dozens of questions. Read the queries and demands for information from the top Democrat and top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.Yahoo's Other Billion-Dollar Bets: Where Are They Now?
Tumblr joins GeoCities, Broadcast.com and Overture in the small fraternity of Yahoo's $1 billion-plus acquisitions. What can the company can learn from its previous purchases?Leave a Comment
Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.
-
Deals For Developers
WAMU investigates city subsidies to developers and campaign contributions from the companies. more >> -
Have A Child With Special Needs?
The Kojo Nnamdi Show is exploring the challenges faced by parents and would like to hear from you. more >> -
Aging and Abuse
With an aging population, elder abuse is expected to increase. We look at the complexities of elder abuse in... more >> -
Half The Battle
A project, produced by journalism students at American University, about young veterans transitioning from... more >> -
Volunteer Recognition
The volunteer of the year award and special projects award are given to a WAMU 88.5 volunteer each year for... more >> -
Yesterday's Dropouts
This series examines the struggles adults face after they leave school without a diploma. more >> -
New Bible
Bill Cain isn't just an award-winning playwright; he's also a Jesuit priest. And he brings the two together... more >> -
Public Insight
Share your knowledge and insights about timely issues with journalists from WAMU 88.5 more >> -
In-Kind Donation Program
By providing an in-kind donation, you may be eligible for a tax deduction, without a cash commitment, and... more >> -
Follow Us On Twitter
To get the latest local stories from WAMU 88.5 News, follow us on Twitter. more >>
