Cities Are Forced to Funnel License Plate Data to a Federal Surveillance Program

The HIDTA program, a federal law enforcement initiative, is forcing cities to share license plate data with the government. This data is collected through Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs), which are installed in many cities across the US. The data is then used to track and monitor individuals, raising concerns about civil liberties and privacy. The program has been criticized for its lack of transparency and oversight, with some cities opposing the data sharing due to concerns about the potential for misuse.