National license plate database sparks privacy fears

[Jesus Malverde]

The Department of Homeland Security is now seeking a vendor to build and operate a smartphone-based national database of vehicle license plate information that would be shared with law enforcement.

Under the DHS plan, an agent could snap a photo with a smartphone, upload it to the database, and immediately be notified whether the plate is on a "hot list" of "target vehicles."

"This system is supposed to be for the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement branch of DHS, for the tracking of illegal immigrants," says WTOP National Security Correspondent J.J. Green.

ICE spokesperson Gillian Christensen tells Federal News Radio, "the database could only be accessed in conjunction with ongoing criminal investigations."

http://www.wtop.com/1373/3563247/National-license-plate-database-sparks-privacy-fears

[hack89]

1. It's ok - I have been told national databases will make us safer. Nt

[Historic NY]

2. Pretty much that been a technology thats more than 4 decades old...

instead of inputing a computer keypad, its allowing a photo generated search...like the camera on police vehicles now. They interact with a states DMV and similataniously check wants-warrants, lost, stolen, missing person, etc. against (NCIC) National Crime Information Center which was developed in 1967.