US Federal Government Aggregates Local License Plate Data via Anti-Drug Program
Local license plate data flows into federal systems through HIDTA with little oversight; cities deploying plate readers should watch where their data actually goes.
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The federal government is funneling local license plate reader data into federal servers through an anti-drug grant program.
According to 404 Media's September 30 report based on public records and court documents, the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) program under the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy aggregates data from local police Flock, Axon and other license plate reader cameras onto federal servers, accessible to federal, state and local law enforcement.
Georgia requires cities to sign a memorandum of understanding promising to send data to a HIDTA before operating plate cameras on state rights of way. The report cites the DEA's December 2024 privacy impact assessment as saying this data can then flow into its National License Plate Reader Program.
Jeramie Scott, who runs the Electronic Privacy Information Center's Surveillance Oversight Center, told the outlet that federal agencies without vendor contracts can obtain the data this way. There are 33 HIDTA programs covering all 50 states, and it is unclear how many jurisdictions are actively feeding data in.