A Chicago suburb on Lake Michigan, home to Northwestern University
The Justice Department has moved to join a lawsuit challenging Evanston, Illinois’ reparations program, which pays $25,000 to qualifying residents and descendants for past housing discrimination. The city has distributed millions so far; critics say the policy is race-based discrimination, while supporters argue it sets a precedent for addressing historical harms.
Flock Safety has announced mandatory changes to its national license-plate camera network after reporting dozens of US officers misused the system. The company has shortened default data retention from 30 days to seven, will require case codes for searches and will force all customers to enable an audit tool that can lock out flagged users.
The Florida Department of Transportation has revoked permits for license-plate reader systems used by local law enforcement, ordering removal from state roadways within 30 days. The move follows concerns about misuse, data privacy, and surveillance.A broader wave of state actions parallels Texas and other jurisdictions amid privacy worries and allegations of abuse in ALPR programs.
Backlash against Flock’s automated license-plate readers intensifies as cities and retailers reassess partnerships. Advocates call for bans while supporters cite crime reduction. The debate centers on privacy safeguards, data retention, and how and when law enforcement can access plate data.