Trump Backs Flock's 120,000-Camera Network as 46% of Americans Oppose Plate Readers
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 14
Trump Backs Flock's 120,000-Camera Network as 46% of Americans Oppose Plate Readers
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 14
Summary
Trump publicly endorsed Flock's license-plate cameras for the first time, saying aboard Air Force One that he likes them "because of law enforcement" after previously saying the White House was still studying the issue.
Flock says its U.S. network of more than 120,000 cameras captures 20 billion plate scans a month and helps police investigate 1 million crimes a year, explaining the law-enforcement appeal Trump cited.
46% of roughly 20,000 U.S. adults surveyed by YouGov in August opposed the technology in their communities, versus 38% who supported it, marking a shift from broader backing last year.
Dozens of officers were charged with or accused of misusing plate-reader systems in a Washington Post investigation, prompting Flock to require each search to carry a criminal case number.
The cameras are becoming a midterm campaign issue, with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, Republican Keith Self and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis all criticizing what they cast as expanding surveillance.