Border Patrol's Secretive Program Monitors Millions of American Drivers Using License Plate Readers
By
jjwiseman
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
The Associated Press investigation reveals that the U.S. Border Patrol operates a secretive predictive intelligence program that monitors millions of American drivers nationwide using license plate reader cameras. The system uses algorithms to flag vehicles as suspicious based on travel patterns, leading to stops, searches, and arrests of U.S. citizens. The program operates without public knowledge and raises significant civil liberties concerns, though the agency claims it follows federal law and constitutional protections.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious
The predictive intelligence program has resulted in people being stopped, searched and in some cases arrested
A network of cameras scans and records vehicle license plate information, and an algorithm flags vehicles deemed suspicious based on where they came from, where they were going and which route they took
The Border Patrol's parent agency said they use license plate readers to help identify threats and disrupt criminal networks and are governed by 'federal law and constitutional protections'
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