Security experts and civil-rights groups press committee to define 'end-to-end' encryption for license-plate readers

The House Rules Committee heard extensive testimony on SB 1516 A, a public-safety omnibus bill that includes regulations on law enforcement use of automated license-plate readers (ALPRs), pretrial release criteria, and a direction for culturally responsive assistance related to justice reinvestment.

Senator Floyd Pruzanski framed ALPR regulation as the likely focal point of committee debate. Proponents — including law-enforcement representatives, community advocates and cybersecurity experts — described a careful compromise but pressed the committee to adopt an amendment (dash-15) that would define end-to-end encryption in statute.

Supporters argued that a precise statutory definition would prevent vendors from claiming compliance while retaining access to unencrypted raw data that could be commercially used or shared with third parties. Cybersecurity experts and civil-rights groups warned vendors sometimes overstate encryption claims and that ambiguous language would create legal uncertainty, evidence challenges and privacy risks. ‘‘The only way to keep this data safe from those who should not access it is through end to end encryption,’’ testified Kai Fireside of Eyes Off Eugene.

Law-enforcement groups including the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police and local chiefs backed SB 1516 A in its compromise form and highlighted cases where ALPRs aided investigations, while civil-liberties advocates such as the ACLU urged stronger privacy guardrails and clarity on retention and access.

Witnesses also asked the committee to consider shorter data-retention windows than the 30-day period in the draft legislation and made technical requests about how remote software updates could alter what data is collected. The committee closed the public hearing after a lengthy panel of in-person and virtual testimony.