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2026-05-24 Science & Technology
FBI puts out an RFP to access license plate readers nationwide in real time
[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.

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Posted by Dopey Photch2701 2026-05-24 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1850 views ]  Top

1 FLOCK Cameras are already facing a major court challenge for a number of US Constitutional Bill Of Rights violation reasons.

Posted by NN2N1 2026-05-24 02:00||   2026-05-24 02:00|| Front Page Top

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.

Posted by NN2N1 2026-05-24 05:49||   2026-05-24 05:49|| Front Page Top

3 Isn't there something about the right and freedom of travel?
Posted by Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2026-05-24 08:10||   2026-05-24 08:10|| Front Page Top

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?
Posted by Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2026-05-24 08:17||   2026-05-24 08:17|| Front Page Top

5 I welcome our face, vehicle license plate, and tire pressure monitoring overlords.

Posted by Besoeker 2026-05-24 08:36||   2026-05-24 08:36|| Front Page Top

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 2026-05-24 08:48||   2026-05-24 08:48|| Front Page Top

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.

Posted by NN2N1 2026-05-24 09:24||   2026-05-24 09:24|| Front Page Top

8 data provided through the Contractor’s existing platform

Pictures, archaic info technology on an archaic infrastructure.

I get automatic billing from my RFID toll tags.
That's a 85 mph read.

My BlueTooth car stereo can read other driver's playlists when sitting in traffic.

OnStar 'knows' a vehicle's VIN and owner.

Lojack knows where your car is and can disable it.

The system must cover 75 percent of locations, the FBI said.

That's a 25% LOS.
Posted by Skidmark 2026-05-24 10:32||   2026-05-24 10:32|| Front Page Top

9 
Posted by Grom the Reflective 2026-05-24 12:41||   2026-05-24 12:41|| Front Page Top

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.
Posted by Airandee 2026-05-24 13:47||   2026-05-24 13:47|| Front Page Top

11 Like putting active trackers on everyone's phones 'to track covid'.
Posted by swksvolFF 2026-05-24 13:59||   2026-05-24 13:59|| Front Page Top

12 Damn cows are getting in on all this white supremacy now.
Posted by Chris 2026-05-24 14:59||   2026-05-24 14:59|| Front Page Top

13 Chris, so the obvious answer is to get all our milk from brown cows, so we will only have chocolate milk. :)
Posted by Rambler 2026-05-24 15:58||   2026-05-24 15:58|| Front Page Top

14 Bovine madness !
Posted by Besoeker 2026-05-24 16:04||   2026-05-24 16:04|| Front Page Top

15 Stick with a nym, Troll
Posted by Spats Whereck2759 2026-05-24 16:43||   2026-05-24 16:43|| Front Page Top

15:51 DarthVader
15:32 NoMoreBS
14:32 badanov
14:26 Silentbrick
14:10  chris
14:06 Skidmark
13:48 Bugs the Wicked6167
13:15 badanov
13:09 DarthVader
12:57 Grom the Reflective
12:06 Grom the Reflective
11:57 Bobby
11:55 Grom the Reflective
10:47 DarthVader
10:39 Silentbrick
10:14 Bobby
10:13 badanov
10:00 Snesing Schwarzeneggar8998
09:58 Besoeker
09:45 Bobby
09:34 Warthog
09:22 Besoeker
09:17 Mercutio
09:13 Glenmore
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