Privacy just got a major reality check in California, and it’s not looking good. Governor Gavin Newsom just threw civil liberties under the bus by vetoing Senate Bill 274, a proposed law that would have regulated how law enforcement uses automated license plate readers (ALPR).

Imaging driving around and knowing that every time your car passes a camera, you’re being tracked, logged, and potentially stalked by overzealous deputies with way too much technology and not enough oversight. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, with its network of over 500 cameras, is basically running a surveillance state right in our backyard.

The Stalker’s Toolkit

Recent investigations reveal some seriously disturbing practices. Deputies are creating personal “hotlists” tracking license plates with vague justifications, often leaving case details blank. In one particularly creepy example, a deputy was caught using these systems to stalk a woman he met at a festival, obtaining her personal information without legal cause.

A Systemic Privacy Nightmare

This isn’t just a Riverside problem. Across California, law enforcement agencies have repeatedly violated laws prohibiting sharing license plate data with federal agencies like ICE. The Attorney General has sent letters to 18 different agencies warning them about these illegal practices.

The Real Cost of “Public Safety”

Newsom claimed these regulations would impede criminal investigations, but the evidence suggests these tools are more often used for personal vendettas and unchecked surveillance than actual crime prevention. As UC San Diego professor Lilly Irani bluntly stated, this technology is “ungovernable”.

The message is clear: your privacy is less important than giving cops unlimited tracking capabilities. Welcome to the surveillance state, Bay Area. Big Brother says hi.