SFPD’s License Plate Data Debacle: A Comedy of Privacy Breaches with a Side of Legal Drama
The San Francisco Police Department is in hot water for sharing ALPR data with out-of-state and federal agencies, a move that reportedly violates California law. With 1.6 million searches by non-California cops, it’s a digital data free-for-all. The EFF and ACLU are demanding answers and accountability.
Hot Take:
California’s Golden State charm is apparently lost on the San Francisco Police Department when it comes to playing by the rules. Sharing is caring, but when SFPD treats ALPR data like a fruitcake at Christmas—passing it to everyone and anyone—they’re not exactly on Santa’s nice list. Instead, they’re tossing Californians’ privacy out the window faster than you can say “SB 34 violation!” Maybe it’s time for SFPD to get a new GPS because they seem lost on the road to lawful data sharing.
Key Points:
- SFPD shared ALPR data with out-of-state and federal agencies, breaching California law.
- EFF and ACLU are demanding SFPD to audit their database and comply with state laws.
- ALPR data can be misused for immigration enforcement and reproductive health surveillance.
- 1.6 million unauthorized searches were conducted by non-California agencies.
- SFPD must develop new protocols to prevent future data-sharing blunders.