EFFector Volume 38, Issue 7

👁 Selling Mass Surveillance

Welcome to an all-new EFFector, your regular digest on everything digital rights from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

In our 842nd issue: The urgent need to reform NSA spying, a victory for internet access in the Supreme Court, and how license plate readers are normalizing mass surveillance.

When you lose your rights online, you lose them in real life. Become an EFF member today!

Featured Story: Traffic Violation! License Plate Reader Mission Creep Is Already Here

All across the country, police have convinced communities to pay for mass surveillance systems like license plate readers, claiming they will help stop the most serious crimes. But time and time again, we've seen police surveillance suffer from "mission creep." Technology that was sold as a way to "catch killers" ends up being used to enforce traffic violations, track protesters, and more.

A new report from 404 Media sheds light on how automated license plate readers (ALPRs) could be used beyond the press releases and glossy marketing materials put out by law enforcement agencies and ALPR vendors. In December 2025, Georgia State Patrol ticketed a motorcyclist for holding a cell phone in his hand. According to the report, the ticket read, “CAPTURED ON FLOCK CAMERA 31 MM 1 HOLDING PHONE IN LEFT HAND.”

If you’re thinking that this sounds outside of the scope of what ALPRs are supposed to do, you’re right. In November 2025, Flock Safety, the maker of the ALPR in question, wrote a blog post about how they definitely are in compliance with the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In the post, which highlighted what ALPRs supposedly are and aren't, the company wrote: “What it is not: Flock ALPR does not perform facial recognition, does not store biometrics, cannot be queried to find people, and is not used to enforce traffic violations.”

Well, apparently their customers never got the memo.

EFF and other privacy advocates have long warned about mission creep when it comes to surveillance infrastructure. Police often swear that a piece of technology will only be used in a particular set of circumstances or to fight only the most serious crimes only to utilize it to fight petty crimes or watch protests. Remember: once mass surveillance systems are installed in your community, it's not just violent criminals they're watching—it's everyone.

READ MORE…

‌EFF Updates

🇬🇧 SOCIAL MEDIA BANS: The UK keeps moving forward with its efforts to ban social media for young people. And, sadly, Britain is not alone. Indonesia, Brazil, Spain, and the Philippines have all either enacted or proposed similar measures recently. But the issue of online safety cannot be addressed through technology alone, especially not through a ban, and young people deserve more intentional approaches, not lazy strategies that cause more harm than they solve.

©️ COX V. SONY: Should internet service providers (ISPs) be forced to terminate people’s internet access based on nothing more than accusations of copyright infringement? That was one potential outcome of Cox v. Sony, a copyright case that sought to hold ISPs liable for copyright infringement simply for offering widely used services. Last month, the Supreme Court rejected this expansive theory of secondary copyright liability. EFF is pleased with this decision.

🎧 NSA SURVEILLANCE: Congress has had two years to negotiate real reforms to Section 702, the invasive spying program that sweeps up the emails, text messages, and other online communications of millions of innocent Americans. But Congress is dropping the ball, with lawmakers proposing a so-called "clean extension" of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and Section 702. On our blog, we explain why Section 702 should not be reauthorized without additional safeguards or oversight.

🌐 INTERNET SHUTDOWNS: The Iranian government has once again shut down internet access, and they're not alone. Around the world, governments are pulling the plug to control narratives and crush resistance. But access to the internet is a human right—and people continue to find ways to stay connected. Join EFF and Amnesty International on April 26 for a livestream discussion on internet censorship and how journalists, emergency responders, and ordinary people can persist.

Don’t Let Tyrants Co-opt Tech

Technology is supercharging the attack on democracy by making it easier to spy on people, block free speech, and control what we do. The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s activists, lawyers, and technologists are fighting back.

Join the movement to Take Back CTRL when you donate to EFF today.

Fresh EFF Gear Is Here

Show off your support for EFF with hot digital rights merch from our online store. Check out the "Let's Sue the Government" ringer tee that sends the signal that our rights are not optional.

In addition to EFF shirts and hoodies, we have a wide variety of freedom-supporting swag in stock, including (extremely popular) liquid core gaming dice, HTTP playing cards, and a tactile Lady Justice braille sticker.

Administrivia

EFFector is a publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Editor: editor@eff.org

Membership and donation queries: membership@eff.org

General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries: info@eff.org

Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. MiniLinks do not necessarily represent the views of EFF.

Back issues of EFFector

About EFF

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit defending online civil liberties. We promote digital innovation, defend free speech, fight illegal surveillance, and protect rights and freedoms for all as our use of technology grows. Find out more at https://www.eff.org/.

This message is printed from 100% recycled electrons. EFF appreciates your support and respects your privacy.

Unsubscribe or change your email preferences, or opt out of all EFF email

815 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 USA