License plate cameras emerge as a national campaign issue

Candidates from both parties are making automated license plate cameras a campaign issue, calling for bans, funding cuts, warrants and tighter privacy rules. The cameras record plates and other vehicle details and allow law enforcement agencies to search and share the data.

The debate has spread across governor and Senate races in several states, as critics raise constitutional and privacy concerns while police and the company behind the technology defend its crime-fighting value. A Michigan congressional candidate criticized the cameras, while his opponent’s campaign pointed to legislation that would restrict their use by federal agencies and bar federal funding for state and local purchases.

The backlash has grown alongside litigation, reports of misuse and broader concerns about powerful technology companies and data collection.

Read the full story at pbs.org.