Privacy Concerns Prompt San Jose to Restrict License Plate Reader Surveillance

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Public concerns about privacy, immigration enforcement, and data sharing have pushed San Jose officials to place new restrictions on the city’s license plate reader surveillance system, even as police leaders argue the technology is necessary to address a major staffing shortage.

San Jose’s license plate surveillance technology, first introduced in 2022, includes a wide network of an estimated 474 cameras, automatic license plate readers and artificial intelligence, according to the San Jose Spotlight, which holds a contract with the Atlanta-based firm Flock Safety, according to The Associated Press (AP).

These new installations were implemented in light of the city’s lack of personnel. San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph, who held his first community town hall in South San Jose in 2025, stated that there were approximately 120 vacant spots in the San Jose Police Department, making it one of the highest short-staffed rates since voters approved Measure B in 2012, as reported by the San Jose Spotlight (SJS).

San Jose, which has a population of 969,000 residents, only has about 1,000 sworn officers. “This shortage of officers is not because of a lack of support from City Hall. In fact, quite the contrary. One of the biggest ironies we face, and the thing troubling me as chief, is we’ve got a city government that would love to get sworn police officers,” said Chief Joseph (SJS).

Despite the city’s efforts, many community members have concerns over the application of the new surveillance system, including the unlawful targeting of law-abiding citizens and immigrants. Furthermore, earlier this year, “three South Bay jurisdictions—Santa Clara County, Los Altos Hills, and Mountain View—terminated their contracts with Flock Safety, amid concerns the company has allowed transfers of license plate reader data to out-of-state law enforcement agencies,”…

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