Traffic plan worries privacy advocates County plans system to ease road congestion.(News)

0 Comments | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), August, 2004 | by Lissau, Russell

Byline: Russell Lissau Daily Herald Staff Writer A high-tech system that will let Lake County officials monitor local traffic conditions has government watchdogs concerned about potential privacy violations. Activists with groups including the American Civil Liberties Union realize the county's intelligent transportation system is designed to alleviate traffic gridlock and could greatly benefit local motorists.

But they worry the government could combine information garnered from the images with other seemingly innocent bits of data to build databases about our lives. They also fear such camera-based systems could be used to spy on motorists or pedestrians under the guise of law enforcement or homeland security. Such furtive activity isn't far-fetched....