Hardware Stores Turn Parking Lots Into Surveillance Hubs With License-Plate Cameras
Home Depot and Lowe's have installed Flock license-plate cameras in parking lots to track vehicles and people; Home Depot says it does not share data with federal agencies but does cooperate with local law enforcement, while Lowe's discloses similar data-sharing in its privacy statement. The cameras have been in use since at least last year, prompting privacy concerns about pervasive surveillance and the potential chilling effect on shoppers.