State of Oregon passes emergency law to limit license plate reader scans from being retained for more than 30 days absent being used as evidence in criminal case. This leaves CA as the outlier state on the West Coast that allows cops to retain for as long as five years.
#ALPR https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2026/04/23/a-new-oregon-law-regulates-police-use-of-license-plate-readers-heres-how-it-works/
A new Oregon law regulates police use of license plate readers. Here’s how it works
By Shaanth Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. -- Oregonians will soon be able to sue private companies that sell or otherwise improperly use data captured by license plate-reading cameras under a new state law. Senate Bill 1516, signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek on March 31, went into effect immediately due to an
"Yen suggests that the tech giants are cynically exploiting parental fears. Meta, for example, has lobbied for age verification to shift the regulatory burden away from its own platforms, allowing it to keep targeting adults with what Yen calls "toxic products."
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/proton-ceo-warns-global-age-verification-push-will-mean-the-death-of-anonymity-online
Proton CEO warns global age verification push will mean "the death of anonymity online"
Protecting children online is crucial, but forcing every user to hand over their ID is a privacy nightmare waiting to happen, according to the head of the Swiss privacy firm
The 9 federal agencies that have access to UC Merced’s data include Border Patrol. The fact is that a police department is currently in violation of California state law in a way that puts their student population at risk,” Katz-Lacabe said.
#ALPR https://www.modbee.com/news/local/education/article315497840.html#storylink=cpy
Ex-Costa Mesa police officer accused of using FLOCK cameras to track his mistress
A former Costa Mesa police officer pleaded guilty to using law enforcement cameras and databases to track his wife and mistress.
"In my view Sam Liccardo has had a front row seat to the ways in which tech can be disruptive and harmful, if not properly regulated"
#AI https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-lawmaker-at-center-of-ai-regulation-fight/
San Jose lawmaker at center of AI regulation fight - San José Spotlight
A coalition of online child safety and tech watchdog groups is calling on Rep. Sam Liccardo, along with several other lawmakers, to reject an endorsement by a pro-AI super PAC called Leading the Future, which has connections to the Trump administration and companies that work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"Flight records show DFR
#drones were launched 31 times to surveil the January 31 “ICE Out” protest in downtown Los Angeles. At the March 28 “No Kings” protest, city data shows the
#LAPD again launched drones 32 times over the area where the demonstration took place"
https://theintercept.com/2026/04/20/lapd-skydio-drone-surveillance-no-kings-protest-ice/
LAPD Deployed Drones to Spy on No Kings Protest
Flight records show that Los Angeles police dispatched drones 32 times over last month’s No Kings rally.
"The US spy tech company
#Palantir published a manifesto some have called “a parody of a RoboCop film” and “the ramblings of a supervillain”.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/21/palantir-manifesto-uk-contract-fears-mps
Palantir manifesto described as ‘ramblings of a supervillain’ amid UK contract fears
Alarm caused by posts of Alex Karp, tech firm’s CEO, championing US military dominance and of AI weapons
Ninth Circuit enjoins California laws on limiting
#masks and requiring
#ID from all law enforcement officers, dealing a blow to California's efforts to combat
#ICE raids.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/04/22/federal-appeals-court-blocks-california-law-requiring-federal-agents-to-wear-identification-2-2/?
Federal appeals court blocks California law requiring federal agents to wear identification
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit i challenging the law, arguing that it would threaten the safety of officers who are facing harassment, doxing, and violence.
While San Jose is voluntarily the leading
#datacenter location in CA, it is far from the only place these projects are in development.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2026/ca-data-center-map/?
