Updates

EPIC’s Jeramie Scott to Testify on Privacy Protections for Traffic Camera Systems in Maryland 

January 31, 2025

Jeramie Scott, Senior Counsel at EPIC and Director of EPIC’s Project on Surveillance Oversight, will testify today at a Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings hearing on Maryland Senate Bill 0381.

The bill would require municipalities installing automated traffic cameras including speeding cameras, red light cameras, and school-bus cameras to establish strong protections. Under S.B. 0381, agencies must obtain a warrant or court order to use the images and data from traffic cameras for any purpose other than ticketing. Police could not obtain or use the images for mass surveillance, transfer them to other agencies, or sell the images to data brokers. The purpose limitation is supported by strong data minimization requirements, data deletion, a ban on data transfer, and auditing requirements. 

In his written testimony, Mr. Scott argued the need to implement strong privacy protections now and that this bill “would protect Marylanders by ensuring that automated camera systems are used to promote safe driving, not mass surveillance.”

Watch the hearing at 10am HERE.

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