Company Will Add Phone, AirPod, and Smartwatch Trackers to License Plate Readers
Hacker News (AI keywords)5 days agoEthicsAutomatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are already widely deployed for vehicle tracking, but one company now plans to add Bluetooth and Wi-Fi probes capable of detecting nearby personal devices including smartphones, AirPods, and smartwatches. This would allow simultaneous correlation of a vehicle's license plate with the device identifiers of its occupants. Privacy advocates warn this creates a dual-layer public surveillance network with no consent mechanism, raising serious civil liberties concerns.
US law enforcement warns of “anti-tech extremism” as AI hatred grows
Ars Technica AI18 days agoRegulationDocuments obtained by WIRED show US intelligence and law enforcement agencies circulating reports on a new category described as anti-technology violent extremism. The concern comes amid protests over data centers, fear of AI-driven job loss, and threats involving tech infrastructure or executives. Civil liberties experts warn the category may be broad enough to chill lawful protest and criticism.