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Los Angeles City Council Delays LAPD License-Plate Reader Pilot Over Privacy Concerns
Los Angeles City Council voted 10-4 to delay an LAPD pilot program that would install AI-enabled Axon license plate readers on city streetlights, referring the matter to the Public Safety Committee over privacy concerns.
Why it matters
The 10-4 vote puts a pause on a high-profile experiment with AI surveillance cameras in public spaces, giving city lawmakers time to weigh privacy safeguards and data rules before police deploy the technology across the city.
Full report
The Los Angeles City Council voted 10-4 on Tuesday to delay a three-month LAPD pilot program that would place AI-enabled license plate readers from Axon Enterprise on hundreds of city streetlights, citing privacy and data-collection concerns.
The motion by Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez and Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson sends the proposal to the council's Public Safety Committee, with the item expected back before the full council no later than October 23. Council members Bob Blumenfield, John Lee, Traci Park and Monica Rodriguez opposed the delay.
The pilot, offered to the city at no cost for three months, would be installed by subcontractor Ubicquia Inc. The cameras clamp onto the tops of streetlights and draw power from them; the company says its AI systems can identify vehicles, license plates, pedestrians and other objects.
In September, the Board of Police Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a 10-year, $235 million contract with Axon Enterprise, plus a separate agreement for the streetlight pilot. Supporters say the technology helps solve crimes and locate victims; critics raised concerns about data safeguards, retention, sharing and potential misuse.
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