AI traffic cameras spark backlash in Mississippi as government officials try to calm fears theyll be used to catch motorists who are speeding, not wearing seatbelts or texting at the wheel

Date:
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Description:
Government officials in Mississippi have been attempting to calm fears that new AI traffic cameras will become a massive privacy violation.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter New technology canned real-time offenses to enforcement agencies Cameras are good enough to spot drivers holding smartphones DPS commissioner says the tech wont be used to write tickets The Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services board has recently signed a contract with Australian AI-focused technology company Acusensus worth $2 million that will introduce special, multi-violation traffic cameras to the state.

The technology, which is powerful enough to capture high-res and blur-free imagery of vehicles and drivers at speeds of up to 186mph, is able to send imagery and data to traffic officers in real-time, with the captured content available to use in a court of law. Understandably, there has been a fierce backlash from residents, who became concerned that the Mississippi Highway Patrol was going to start using AI-powered cameras to allow troopers to write tickets for offenses caught on film, according to Mississippis Supertalk.fm . Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

In response, Sean Tindell, the states public safety commissioner, announced
on a video posted to Facebook that his department entered the agreement to help it identify areas of the state that have a higher probability of fatal crashes and accidents, which would allow his team to better allocate
resources to those areas.

While Tindell said that no tickets would be issued based on data received
from the devices, some have been outspoken on the introduction of such intrusive AI-powered cameras in public. You may like This free tool is
helping drivers avoid automatic license plate readers Illinois smart glasses driving ban is yet another blow for the technology AI and bots now account
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Cameras armed with AI, peering into your car and processing your actions, invading your privacy, and then signaling a live officer down the road to
pull you over and issue citations and/or make arrests in real time. Its a
very slippery slope with frightening ramifications, House Rep. Dan Eubanks said, according to Carscoops . Analysis: Safer roads or an Orwellian future? (Image credit: Acusensus) As Dan Eubanks pointed out, every American citizen has a Constitutional right to face his or her accuser, and one of the
greatest concerns with AI-powered traffic cameras is that, alongside a suggested invasion of privacy, it potentially removes the officer from the equation. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

In much of Europe, we have long lived with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and speed trap devices that will automatically send penalty charges through the post, so this doesnt feel too alien.

That said, cameras that look into a vehicles cabin and can detect the misuse of technology or abuse of seat belt laws takes things up a level.

It joins mounting concern from certain privacy advocates surrounding the use of technology to track citizens every moves, as we recently reported on the steps being taken by some motorists to avoid the growing number of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras.

While it's often stated that cameras have the potential to act as a deterrent to dangerous driving and catch offenders, there is mounting concern that it also feels a lot like mass surveillance. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/ai-traffic-cam eras-spark-backlash-in-mississippi-as-government-officials-try-to-calm-fears-t heyll-be-used-to-catch-motorists-who-are-speeding-not-wearing-seatbelts-or-tex ting-at-the-wheel


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