Community members in eastern Iowa are bringing attention to a new surveillance technology that’s been quietly rolled out across the state. It’s a tool that helps law enforcement agencies track vehicles across multiple jurisdictions. While some say it helps reduce crime, there are growing concerns that it might be used with other motives in mind.
Longtime Cedar Rapids resident Josh Whartman was driving home from work one day when something strange caught his eye.
“I noticed this black camera, which is odd,” Whartman said. “I thought it was bizarre. Having worked for the city, I kind of had an interest in surveillance and like, ‘What’s the city doing?’ I figured it was a traffic camera.”…