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)…