Sure! Here’s the translated text:
—
In a context where police surveillance has intensified and personal freedoms are increasingly at risk, a sheriff’s office in Texas has conducted a disturbing data search using over 83,000 automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in an effort to locate a woman suspected of having had a home abortion. An investigator assigned to the case reviewed 6,809 camera networks provided by the surveillance technology company Flock Safety, including areas where the legality of abortion remains protected, such as the states of Washington and Illinois. The search warrant specified that the reason was “had an abortion, search for woman.”
This event reflects the deep repercussions of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2022, which overturned the historic Roe v. Wade case. Since then, several states have gained new powers to prohibit and even criminalize abortion. In Texas, where restrictions have intensified, abortion is virtually banned, while in states like Washington and Illinois, it remains a fundamental right protected until fetal viability.
The new legal landscape has allowed law enforcement to utilize any kind of data—including license plates, phone records, and geolocation data—to pursue individuals across state borders. Although more than 1,800 agencies have implemented ALPR systems, at least 4,000 have access to run searches through the Flock network. This nearly unlimited access has raised concerns about the lack of oversight and the standards regulating how this data is accessed.
Although this particular search explicitly referenced an abortion, many other audited records simply state “investigation” as the reason, which obscures other searches directed at individuals involved in similar situations.
This case highlights a growing concern: the infrastructure of mass surveillance, originally conceived for tracking stolen vehicles or missing persons, is being used to identify those seeking reproductive healthcare. The ability of law enforcement to track individuals across states raises serious dilemmas about the balance between “protection” and “persecution.”
Additionally, the use of ALPR technology has sparked alarm about the initiation of investigations. One report indicates that approximately a quarter of self-managed miscarriage cases have been reported to authorities by acquaintances of the victims, suggesting that a simple conversation can lead to an intense national search.
The intersection of surveillance technology and abortion legislation raises critical questions related to privacy and individual rights. As the use of these surveillance tools continues to expand, it is crucial that robust state laws are enacted to limit data sharing and ensure proper oversight of surveillance systems, as public safety should not become a mechanism for enforcing highly controversial laws.
—
Let me know if you need any more help!
via: MiMub in Spanish
