The article argues that the proliferation of Advanced License Plate Readers (ALPRs), particularly Flock Safety cameras, represents a significant threat to civil liberties and is paving the way for a U.S. surveillance state akin to China’s. Despite claims of “public safety,” these technologies enable warrantless mass surveillance, logging and sharing citizens’ movements. While acknowledging the LAPD’s pause on its Flock contract due to civil liberty concerns, the author highlights documented instances of police misuse of ALPRs for stalking and personal vendettas. The fundamental issue is the potential for AI-driven profiling and predictive policing, eroding privacy and freedom, pushing the nation towards an Orwellian future where even secrets are impossible to keep.