Mississippi AI cameras spark privacy concerns
Mississippi AI cameras spark privacy concerns
https://www.wapt.com/article/mississippi-ai-cameras-monitor-drivers/71668333
Publish Date: 2026-06-22 16:27:00
Source Domain: www.wapt.com
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety plans to install artificial intelligence cameras in crash-prone areas to monitor driver behavior, a move that has sparked privacy concerns among lawmakers.The contract between DPS and Acusensus Inc. was approved last week by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services Board and will cost at least $2 million. The cameras will monitor drivers for cell phone use and seat belt compliance. State Sen. Bradford Blackmon is concerned about the initiative. “That type of technology can be good if it’s been thoroughly vetted and everything along those lines, but it hasn’t been,” Blackmon said. “This isn’t something that has come before the Legislature for us to even see about this type of technology.” DPS officials defended the plan, emphasizing the cameras’ ability to detect violations that are often missed by patrol cars. “A lot of times you can’t see the violations from the patrol car, but if you have the camera system overhead, now you can see the truck driver on his cellphone, or now you can see the children standing up on the front seat of the car,” DPS officials said. The funding for the cameras comes from two grants, and DPS said similar technology has already been installed in five other states, including Minnesota and North Carolina. They added that the cameras have reduced crashes to zero percent in some areas.
JACKSON, Miss. —
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety plans to install artificial intelligence cameras in crash-prone areas to monitor driver behavior, a move that has sparked privacy concerns among lawmakers.
The contract between DPS and Acusensus Inc. was approved last week by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services Board and will cost at least $2 million. The cameras will monitor drivers for cell phone use and seat belt compliance.
State Sen. Bradford Blackmon is concerned about the initiative.
“That type of…
