Government surveillance using license plate readers has drawn attention in the United States, especially in Southern California during the past year. The issue became public in 2024 after an investigation revealed that federal agencies placed hidden cameras along roads in San Diego and Imperial counties near the border with Mexico. The devices were installed inside traffic equipment such as construction barrels, making the surveillance difficult to detect. Advocacy groups and privacy experts expressed concern because the cameras collected data from millions of drivers without clear public notice. The technology was connected to a predictive intelligence system used by U.S. Border Patrol to study travel patterns and identify vehicles considered suspicious. The development increased legal and political scrutiny, as scholars described the program as potentially intrusive.

The system operates by recording license plate numbers, locations, and travel times, then processing the information through advanced algorithms. Court documents show that vehicles are flagged based on routes, speed, or time spent near border regions, demonstrating the expansive reach of modern data analysis. Federal agencies may share results with local police, leading to traffic stops for minor violations. Supporters state that the technology strengthens enforcement capabilities and improves national security. Critics argue that the opaque process creates significant ramifications for ordinary drivers. Recent improvements in computing power have made surveillance more efficient, but legal experts stress the importance of transparency, regulation, and oversight to ensure proportional use across multiple jurisdictions today nationwide and ongoing.