WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
West Palm Beach approved a new generation of 83 cameras that can read license plates and operate as full-time CCTV.
The City's connected-camera program also advertises AI-assisted search, automated alerts, and integration with privately owned cameras.
We're finding out how far this network reaches, what it records, who can search it, and what rules protect us.
THE DOWNFALL OF PRIVACY
This has become more than a license plate scanning network, let alone a traffic-monitoring system. More cameras, private-camera integration, AI tools, and years of data retention are all part of the expansion. By ignoring these changes, we make it easier for our privacy to be undermined. Without clear limitations or public attention, they'll continue to push closer and closer to the boundaries of our constitutional rights.
In June 2026, West Palm Beach approved replacing its aging 83-unit license plate reader network with Motorola L6D units. These units read plates and operate as CCTV cameras, effectively adding 83 additional investigative camera assets to the city.
West Palm Beach's own budget lists an Axon Fusus investigative data platform contract through 2029. Axon says Fusus can use AI-assisted searches to find people, vehicles, and objects on video. It can also generate real-time alerts for certain critera.
In May 2026, West Palm Beach announced plans to fund at least 40 new
CCTV cameras on commericaial and non residential proprerties.
These cameras expand live and recorded surveillance available through WPBPD's
real-time Crime Center; turning privately owned properities into additional points
of coverage
Simply put, this conveniently allows more public life to be recorded,
stored, viewed, without the city even having to own it.
Florida's official records schedule allows ALPR records
to be retained for as long as three years.
That can include records showing when and where a vehicle was seen.
We're still waiting on WPBPD records to learn how long routine scans
are actually kept for. We'll publish WPBPD's actual retention policy
here when the records arrive.
LOCAL SURVEILLANCE
Deflock WPB is currently documenting the ALPR systems operating in West Palm Beach and the surrounding area: who runs them, what rules govern them, and where the data can go.
We're documenting WPB's ALPR network, equipment, contracts, retention rules, and access policies.
RECORDS PENDINGWe're verifying the Village's ALPR network and how it operates with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
RECORDS PENDINGWe're investigating ALPR vendors, retention, data sharing, outside access, and oversight.
RECORDS PENDINGTHE QUESTION IS:
What gets recorded?
How long is it kept?
Who can search it?
Who else gets access?
Who checks for misuse?
Who approved it?
DO SOMETHING
Learn what's being deployed in your community. Help demand transparency and limits on mass surveillance.