Following 404 Media Investigation, Senator Demands Info About White House's License Plate Surveillance Program

Sen. Ron Wyden is calling for more information about the White House's license plate surveillance program following an investigation by 404 Media, reports suggest. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, under the Office of National Drug Control Policy, has been using license plate reader data from vendors like Flock and Axon, according to 404 Media's findings.

Wyden has requested that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) release a report they commissioned on the privacy practices of these surveillance programs, including the license plate reader database. He noted that MITRE, a nonprofit contractor, conducted a privacy review of these programs in 2024 but the report has not been made public.

Wyden urged the release of this review and a separate analysis of automated license plate reader systems and practices, demanding transparency into these programs.