Many US cities use license plate
tracking, even
on parked cars. Even if they normally delete the data after a few
days, there is no telling which other agencies might have got copies
in the meantime.
A
bill being considered in New York State would put limits on the
use of data from license plate cameras.
This would be a big step forward, but I fear it would be insufficient
because the FBI
could seize
the whole database every day under the PAT RIOT act.
To make license plate cameras safe, we need a law to require that the
system fail to recognize any license plates other than those specified
individually by court order.
Cameras are not the only way to track
cars. "Digital
license plates" could track a car's movements all the time.
Of course, a "connected car" does the same thing. The "connection"
works via a cellular modem, and the phone system always knows
approximately where it is. Perhaps the car also has a GPS system to
give it more precise tracking data.
If you own a "connected car", I suggest you disconnect it.
The car's computers might record all the GPS locations for the next
time it is serviced. So I suggest disconnecting the GPS too.
Can anyone determine whether putting aluminum foil around the antennas
is feasible, and whether it is effective at cutting off connectivity
and GPS?