He saw an abandoned trailer. Then, he uncovered a surveillance network on California's border
Residents in Southern California have begun noticing license plate readers near the border that appear to be operated by U.S. Border Patrol. Some people in the area have reported unclear or confusing interactions with agents connected to the infrastructure.
Why this matters: License plate readers do not just catch people running red lights. They log where your car was, when, and how often. A network of them run by federal agents along a border region means routine travel by ordinary residents gets recorded and retained. You do not have to cross anything to end up in that data. People who live, work, or drive near the border have not consented to being tracked, and it is not clear what Border Patrol does with that information or how long they keep it. That is the part that deserves a straight answer.
Who should care: Privacy officers · Cybersecurity · General readers · Policy
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