LETTER: Privacy and license-plate readers

Am I being tracked? If you use the internet, carry a smartphone or drive a modern car, the answer is a resounding “yes.” These everyday tools rely on massive data-harvesting networks that track your moves, store your information and sell it to the highest bidder.

Given the scale of this commercial surveillance, the public outcry over automated license-plate cameras feels contradictory. Unlike corporate data brokers, these cameras collect minimal vehicle data, purge it automatically after seven days and restrict access to authorized personnel.

Why do we object to a localized, short-term security measure when we willingly carry hyper-targeted tracking devices in our pockets every day? It is time to look at the broader reality of modern privacy and realize these cameras are a drop in the bucket.