Home Depot and Lowe’s Face Scrutiny Over License Plate Cameras and Police Data Sharing in Connecticut

Connecticut lawmakers have fired off formal inquiries to Home Depot and Lowe’s, demanding transparency over the retailers’ use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) in their parking lots. The cameras, supplied by Flock Safety, are being deployed nationwide to combat theft, fraud, and bolster store security. However, legislators are pressing for details on data retention periods, access controls, and whether law enforcement agencies—including out-of-state departments—can obtain the footage without warrants. Both chains acknowledge using the technology but have not yet clarified whether police requests require judicial approval. Connecticut recently enacted a law restricting cross-state sharing of ALPR data, though neighboring states like Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts are exempt. Customers remain largely unaware that their vehicle’s arrival and departure could be tracked and stored indefinitely. The eight-point questionnaire sent to the CEOs seeks explicit answers on retention policies, warrant requirements, and inter-agency data-sharing practices. With retail theft a growing concern, the retailers argue the cameras are essential for identifying repeat offenders and organized crime groups, but privacy advocates warn the lack of safeguards in private-sector surveillance could erode civil liberties.