Information from Seattle's license plate scanners is used by the police for all kinds of investigations. Bryce Newell, Ph.D. '15, was interviewed by NPR's Martin Kaste for a story entitled, "Questions remain about how to use data from license plate scanners."
Newell is an expert in information law, policy, and ethics. In addition to his iSchool doctorate, he has a law degree from University of California, Davis. He investigates how wearable cameras on police officers alter various aspects of police work, affect police-citizen interactions and perceptions of police legitimacy, and provide evidence to support or deter claims of misconduct.
In the interview, Newell says, "As we mix data between roving systems on these patrol cars and systems mounted on, say red lights, law enforcement could get a much better picture of our individual movements. And with enough data, [police can] predict when we might leave our home and when we might be at home, for instance."