Home Improvement Giants Face Backlash Over License Plate Reading Cameras

Home Depot and Lowe's are facing backlash over their use of parking lot cameras capable of reading license plates. A coalition of online creators, representing a combined audience of around 46 million people, is urging both companies to remove the automated license-plate readers made by Flock Safety.

The campaign, organized by digital-rights group Fight for the Future, has been launched in response to concerns over mass surveillance and data collection. The coalition argues that shoppers may not expect their vehicle information to be collected during an everyday shopping trip.

Home Depot has stated that the technology helps prevent theft, fraud, and organized retail crime while protecting customers and employees. However, critics argue that safeguards put in place by Flock Safety do not address the core issue of data collection.