What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | The Surveillance Interstate
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Nov 23, 2025 
Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and investigative journalist focused on surveillance, dives into the invasive world of license plate tracking. He reveals how apps like ICE's Mobile Companion exploit data to bypass constitutional rights. The discussion highlights alarming cases, such as tracking individuals post-abortion, and the public backlash against Flock's network. Cox emphasizes the need for transparency, warrant reforms, and offers practical tips for protecting personal data while navigating this surveillance landscape.
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License Plate Photos Can Unlock Identities
- ICE tested a Motorola app that lets officers photo license plates and add scans to a national database linked to Thomson Reuters data.
- That enables near-real-time vehicle tracking tied to identity records like addresses and marriage licenses.
ALPRs Create A Nationwide Location Trail
- Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) blanket much of the U.S., scanning plates and vehicle details constantly.
- Companies market them for stolen cars or missing people but they create pervasive location logs of drivers.
A Local Query Can Search Cross-Country Cameras
- Flock's network connects thousands of cameras into a searchable national system for police and others.
- That means a local plate query can return hits from distant states without a warrant.