[ArsTechnica] FBI will pay vendors to help it track and search for vehicles nationwide.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced plans to buy nationwide access to a network of license plate readers, saying it will award contracts to one or more vendors that can offer “near real time” information from cameras across the US. The proposed contract is for the FBI Directorate of Intelligence.
“To evaluate and manage threats to personal safety, property, and law enforcement, the FBI requires professional service firms that can provide License Plate Readers (LPRs) for tracking subjects on roads and highways over the US and its territories,” the FBI said in a Request for Proposals (RFP) published on May 14. The FBI said the winning bidder or bidders “must provide law enforcement and/or commercial license plate reader data provided through the Contractor’s existing platform.” The system must cover 75 percent of locations, the FBI said.
Contractors have to be able “to share/create maps depicting camera coverage (i.e. heat mapping),” and “provide the FBI the source of information (i.e. red-light cameras, repossession vendors, speed cameras, etc.),” the FBI said. The FBI said it needs to be able to search the database for partial or full plate numbers, plate states, addresses, locations where a plate was scanned, and vehicle makes and models.
#2
With over 98,000 Flock Cameras already installed and tracking cars and our physical movements for several years now.
NO WARRANT REQUIRED.
Flock sells their cloud-connected cameras to police departments and private customers across the USA as a enormously powerful driver-surveillance tool. It collect data. just like when the Government purchases user social media / internet data from Google, Facebook, and etc.
BTW: YES, FLOCK collected data has lead to many good & needed arrests.
But it has also has been abused. There are many documented Illegally handled, even wrongful arrests situations. Plus a number of Taxpayer paid expensive winning lawsuits.
#4
AI search: Freedom of travel is a fundamental right in the United States, allowing citizens to move freely between states without unreasonable government interference. This right is primarily protected by the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the Constitution and has been upheld by various Supreme Court rulings.
So that makes license plate readers of dubious legality?
#6
There is a Stasi like quality to the FBI. Intrusive surveillance of regular citizens, intimidation, obvious corruption and a failure to investigate Poli ally connected individuals. I remember the days when we planned to shut them down.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/24/2026 8:48 Comments ||
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#7
Do a little digging and one will quickly find many congressional person and media fought the creation of FBI tooth and nail in 1908.
NOTE: In 1908, over the objections of some members of Congress, Attorney General Charles Bonaparte, the grandson of the French emperor's brother, issued an executive order creating the basis of such an investigative force within the Justice Dept. However, it was only given certain LIMITED Scope and Powers.
BUT !!!!
Like EVERY FEDERAL agency its powers and scope grew and grew beyond intentions.
With that said. Yes! The FBI has been a great help in protecting America!
But it has also abused its powers, committed illegal acts and/or deeds as directed by various political powers in power at the time.
#10
I have been a data analyst for 25 years and in analytics for 38; if the data exists someone has access and uses it. It is always better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
I suspect many agencies have been accessing License Plate data for years. I believe they tracked the Brown university shooter to the storage unit where his body was found.
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