california folk - plates scanned? class action...

[id10t]

From https://yro.slashdot.org/story/24/02/24/2126233/license-plate-scanning-company-violates-privacy-of-millions-of-california-drivers-argues-class-action

"If you drive a car in California, you may be in for a payday thanks to a lawsuit alleging privacy violations by a Texas company," report SFGate:
The 2021 lawsuit, given class-action status in September, alleges that Digital Recognition Network is breaking a California law meant to regulate the use of automatic license plate readers. DRN, a Fort Worth-based company, uses plate-scanning cameras to create location data for people's vehicles, then sells that data to marketers, car repossessors and insurers.

What's particularly notable about the case is the size of the class. The court has established that if you're a California resident whose license plate data was collected by DRN at least 15 times since June 2017, you're a class member. The plaintiff's legal team estimates that the tally includes about 23 million people, alleging that DRN cameras were mounted to cars on public roads. The case website lets Californians check whether their plates were scanned.

Barring a settlement or delay, the trial to decide whether DRN must pay a penalty to those class members will begin on May 17 in San Diego County Superior Court... The company's cameras scan 220 million plates a month, its website says, and customers can use plate data to "create comprehensive vehicle stories."

A lawyer for the firm representing class members told SFGATE Friday that his team will try to show DRN's business is a "mass surveillance program."

[Arizona_928]

They’re not just in California.

[speeder]

Yay California! I knew there was a reason I moved here.

[Bill Douglas]

What fun.

They do that here in NZ too. So it will be interesting to see what pans out in California.

With me having won one or two cases against the po lice, I'm sure I'm on their hate list. I may go for a cash settlement for "Hurt, humiliation and something else." LOL

[Noah930]

79 times. That's the number of times the plate on my DD has been scanned.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Noah930

79 times. That's the number of times the plate on my DD has been scanned.

You'll be at the top of the amount of settlement money, 76 cents.

[hcoles]

It doesn't say that names were connected to the license plate number. You are driving around in public with a number on your car - why would you have an expectation of privacy?

[cstreit]

Sounds like some lawyers are soon to get a big bonus while you get $1.76

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Noah930

79 times. That's the number of times the plate on my DD has been scanned.

How do you know this?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Tobra

How do you know this?

click the link. It goes to the class action website where you can input your plate.


Mine is 0, but I also was doing a lot of "gray area" midnight freight runs during covid.

[Tobra]

Maybe it is So Cal thing, 0 on my cars

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Sounds like some lawyers are soon to get a big bonus while you get $1.76

Oh now it's a buck 76? I'm in!