Privacy and Trust in ALPR - The Responsibility We Must Uphold
A Note from Kathleen Chigos, Co- Founder & CEO of PlateSmart Technologies
There are few industries where the stakes are as high as ours.
At PlateSmart, we don’t just develop ALPR software. We develop systems that law enforcement, businesses, and communities depend on every day. Each license plate scanned has the potential to solve a crime, protect a campus, improve logistics, or safeguard a hospital.
But with that power comes responsibility.
The responsibility to protect individual rights, inspire public confidence, and operate with integrity.
The True Cost of Convenience
For years, much of the industry has taken the shortcut approach: collect massive amounts of data, pool it across jurisdictions, and monetize access.
The headlines are familiar: unauthorized lookups, terms of service that quietly expand data use, and vendors that treat customer information as their own. This has eroded trust in ALPR.
The issue isn’t the technology itself. It’s the intent and the architecture behind it.
When data is pooled without strict boundaries or clear consent, systems designed for safety and efficiency can quickly drift into misuse. That is not just a technical flaw. It’s a values gap.
Our Commitment: Privacy First, Always
From the start, PlateSmart made a different choice.
We ensure that data always stays under the control of the customer — whether they are a police department, a university, a hospital, or a business.
- On-premises deployments: All data remains inside the organization’s environment.
- Cloud solutions: Designed for maximum flexibility, whether on AWS or other leading U.S.-based cloud platforms. All environments are fully isolated, with no cross-customer mingling and no vendor access without explicit authorization. Customers choose the platform that best meets their policies, while still benefiting from PlateSmart’s security-first architecture.
- Compliance: Every deployment is aligned with CJIS, SOC2, and HIPAA standards where applicable, so customers know they meet the highest requirements.
And just as important - PlateSmart does not monetize customer data. We don’t resell it, reuse it, or “default to sharing.” That is not our business model. It is our philosophy.
The Rise of AI and New Responsibilities
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping ALPR. It can accelerate investigations, uncover patterns, and improve efficiency. But AI also brings risks like bias, opacity, and decisions that operators may not fully understand.
At PlateSmart, we believe AI must be explainable and auditable.
Our systems are developed with transparency by design, giving organizations clear insight into why a plate was flagged and what triggered a match. Every decision has an audit trail, ensuring accountability when it matters most.
Progress in AI should never come at the expense of privacy. If anything, the smarter the system becomes, the stronger its safeguards must be.
Confidence as the Foundation for Trust in ALPR
In conversations with chiefs of police, business owners, and city officials, priorities often begin with speed, cost, or capability. But when the discussion gets serious, the real priority always surfaces: confidence in the system.
Trust does not come from marketing slogans.
It comes from architecture, compliance, and accountability. It comes from developing systems designed for what is not only legal but ethical. And it comes from knowing that, even when under pressure, the right decision will always outweigh the easy one.
PlateSmart has chosen to lead with accountability, transparency, and security-first design.
We encourage others across the ALPR and security ecosystem to do the same — because only by raising the standard together can this technology reach its full potential.
- Kathleen
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