Who’s Watching the Watchers?

January 8, 2026

Following a December 2025 vote, San Diego City Council approved by a 5-3 margin the continued use of 54 surveillance technologies operated by the police department, including controversial automated license plate readers (ALPRs) embedded in Smart Streetlights. The decision came despite revelations of a significant data breach where ALPR information was improperly accessed nearly 13,000 times by outside agencies without authorization, a fact the police department initially failed to disclose in its annual surveillance report. The technology, which has cost the city nearly $5 million, faces opposition from over 60 community organizations and labor unions who argue it creates a surveillance pipeline that particularly impacts immigrant and minority communities already experiencing overpolicing.

Who is affected

Black and Brown communities experiencing overpolicing
Immigrant families and communities in San Diego
San Diego residents whose license plate data was captured by ALPRs
Individuals whose data was accessed during the unauthorized breach (nearly 13,000 times)
More than 60 organizations and labor unions united under the TRUST SD Coalition
San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council members
United Domestic Workers (UDW) representing over 170,000 home care and family child care providers
Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA)
Hundreds of residents who attended the December 9 council meeting
City of San Diego (financially impacted by nearly $5 million in technology costs)
San Diego Police Department personnel (1,146 authorized users)

What action is being taken

SDPD is continuing to use all 54 surveillance technologies, including Smart Streetlights and ALPRs
Weekly audits (changed from quarterly) are being implemented for ALPR systems
Contractors and subcontractors are required to notify the City within 24 hours of being served with out-of-state or federal warrants seeking ALPR data
SDPD is sharing ALPR data with federal agencies including the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Secret Service for criminal investigations
The Attorney General's Office is suing El Cajon for allegedly violating SB 34 by sharing ALPR data with federal and out-of-state agencies
The TRUST SD Coalition is continuing to organize against ALPR technology use

Why it matters

This decision matters because it involves a fundamental tension between public safety and civil liberties, particularly for vulnerable communities. The nearly $5 million expenditure diverts funds from essential city services like libraries, mental health grants, and community equity programs. The technology creates concerns about a mass surveillance infrastructure that disproportionately impacts immigrant and minority communities already subject to overpolicing. The data breach involving nearly 13,000 unauthorized accesses, which was initially omitted from official reports, raises serious questions about data security and government transparency. With federal immigration enforcement escalating, the sharing of ALPR data with agencies like Border Patrol and ICE—despite assurances it's only for criminal investigations—threatens to erode trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. The case also highlights broader issues about how surveillance technology can be misused and whether adequate oversight mechanisms exist to protect civil rights while pursuing legitimate law enforcement goals.

What's next

The City of San Diego will prepare its 2025 Annual Surveillance Report in the new year
The TRUST SD Coalition plans to continue advocacy efforts when the new annual report is released ("another bite at the apple")
Community members and advocates will continue debating ALPR technology use
The ongoing lawsuit by the Attorney General's Office against El Cajon will proceed

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint