AI Surveillance by Local Police Is Growing – What It Means for Your Privacy
AI Surveillance by Local Police Is Growing – What It Means for Your Privacy In May 2026, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office announced an expansion of its AI-powered surveillance tools, including new facial recognition capabilities, automated license plate readers, and predictive analytics software. The move, reported by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, is part of a broader trend among local law enforcement agencies across the country adopting artificial intelligence to monitor public spaces. While officials tout these tools as aids for crime prevention and response, privacy advocates warn that the expansion comes with significant risks to civil liberties, often with little public oversight. ...