Illinois’s surveillance technology, as reported

Press coverage naming Illinois or a jurisdiction within it — each story tagged with the technology it covers. 83 stories

Story Location
Jul 22 Boy, 15, found dead on West Side porch as ShotSpotter gap leaves gunfire unreported. Again.
CWB Chicago
Contract canceled
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Jul 22 Darien Warned About Polices Flock Surveillance Cameras
Patch
us/il/dupage/city/darien
Jul 22 Flock Safety Keeps Getting Caught Lying to the Governments That Pay It
Gadget Review
Contract canceled
us/wi/winnebago/city/oshkosh
us/co/larimer/city/loveland
us/il/champaign/city/urbana
Jul 18 Holiday Hills police department could be disbanded after chief charged with felony misconduct
Shaw Local ($)
McHenry County, IL us/il/mchenry
Jul 16 Is the government listening? Gunshot detectors spark backlash
Central Oregon Daily
us/ca/santa-clara/city/san-jose
Champaign County, IL us/il/champaign
Jul 16 Metra Begins Drone Pilot Project to Boost Safety and Security
Metro Magazine
More coverage: Yahoo · Railway Supply · Mass Transit
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Jul 16 Cicero Police to Open New Real Time Crime Center
lawndalenews.comalso carried by 2 other outlets
More coverage: WRBL
us/il/cook/town/cicero
Jul 15 Peoria Police Department pilots program using drones as first responders
WCBU Peoria
More coverage: AOL.com
us/il/peoria/city/peoria
Jul 15 Illinois police chiefs defend license plate readers amid privacy concerns and data sharing debates
whig.com
Adams County, IL us/il/adams
Jul 13 Peoria police test ‘drone as first responder’ technology trial
CIProud.comalso carried by 2 other outlets
More coverage: CIProud.com · WEEK | 25 News Now · Peoria Journal Star · 93.3 The Drive
us/il/peoria/city/peoria
Jul 12 Shooting victim found by passersby as Chicago continues to wait for mayor's promised ShotSpotter replacement
CWB Chicago
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Jul 8 After Prairie Grove officer accused of misusing Flock, Woodstock will draft rules for cop use of cameras
Shaw Local ($)
McHenry County, IL us/il/mchenry
Jul 8 Bloomington police explain what drones can and can’t do under Illinois Law
WEEK | 25 News Now ($)
us/il/mclean/city/bloomington
Jul 8 Springfield City Council approves Flock license plate reader contract, with changes
Capitol City Now
More coverage: WANDTV.com
New contract
us/il/sangamon/city/springfield
Jul 7 Springfield debates Flock Safety contract renewal | Video
The State Journal-Register
More coverage: The State Journal-Register · Capitol City Now
New contract
us/il/sangamon/city/springfield
Jun 18 McHenry County police chief arrested for allegedly using law enforcement, license plate reader databases for personal use
Lake and McHenry County Scanner
More coverage: Shaw Local · Lake and McHenry County Scanner
McHenry County, IL us/il/mchenry
Jun 15 Glenview Board renews 25 license plate reader cameras in $412,500 contract
Chicago Tribune ($)
New contract
Lake County, IL us/il/lake
us/il/cook/village/glenview
Jun 15 Normal Police Department seeks approval for drone program
CIProud.com
More coverage: WGLT
New contract
us/il/mclean/town/normal
Jun 15 Normal Police request $50K for drone technology to aid in emergency response
WEEK | 25 News Now ($)
us/il/mclean/town/normal
Jun 9, 2026 Search for replacement for Chicago shootings detection technology ShotSpotter stalls amid delays from Procurement Department
ABC7 Chicago
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Jun 8, 2026 More Than A Year After Mayor Promised ShotSpotter Replacement, Alders Demand: 'What’s Taking So Long?'
Block Club Chicago
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Jun 3, 2026 Former CPD officer backs gunshot detection system, questions impact of removal | ChicagoLIVE
FOX 32 Chicago
us/il/cook/city/chicago
May 29, 2026 Illinois bill would limit police use of license plate reader data amid privacy concerns
Shaw Local ($)
DeKalb County, IL us/il/dekalb
Kane County, IL us/il/kane
Winnebago County, IL us/il/winnebago
May 27, 2026 Mayor Brandon Johnson touts faster Chicago police responses post-ShotSpotter
Chicago Tribune ($)
More coverage: Chicago Tribune
us/il/cook/city/chicago
May 25, 2026 Peoria City Council asked to stick with ShotSpotter
WEEK | 25 News Now ($)
More coverage: WEEK | 25 News Now · Peoria Journal Star · WCBU Peoria
New contract
us/il/peoria/city/peoria
Peoria County, IL us/il/peoria
May 19, 2026 Cook County expands Flock license plate reader network
Chicago Reader
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
May 16, 2026 EXCLUSIVE: The Oversight Project calls for investigation into Fusus, Oak Brook contract
The Center Square
DuPage County, IL us/il/dupage
May 13, 2026 Sheriff’s license plate reader deal draws opposition, while AI cameras for Cook County Jail delayed
Chicago Tribune ($)
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
May 13, 2026 Critics Ratchet Up Pressure on Johnson to Award New Contract for Gunshot Detection System
WTTW
us/il/cook/city/chicago
May 12, 2026 Alders frustrated with delay in Mayor Brandon Johnson's promise to replace ShotSpotter gunshot detection system
CBS News
us/il/cook/city/chicago
May 11, 2026 Cook County Sheriff’s Office pitches expanded surveillance network
Chicago Reader
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
Cook County, GA us/ga/cook
Apr 30, 2026 New bill in Illinois restricts police use of license plate cameras
MyStateline
Illinois us/il
Apr 15, 2026 Police-operated CCTV cameras yet to be installed in Waterloo
CityNews Kitchener
us/il/monroe/city/waterloo
Apr 15, 2026 Council turns up heat to find replacement for ShotSpotter
Chicago Sun-Times ($)
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Apr 13, 2026 Who controls Flock data? Rockford, Flock explain camera partnership
Rockford Register Star
us/il/winnebago/city/rockford
Apr 9, 2026 Homer Glen OKs agreement to put some limits on license plate reader use
Chicago Tribune ($)
Will County, IL us/il/will
Apr 7, 2026 Illinois bill would bar police use of facial recognition, biometric surveillance
Biometric Update
Illinois us/il
Mar 4, 2026 Rockford pushes back on claims of license plate reader misuse
MyStateline
us/il/winnebago/city/rockford
Mar 3, 2026 Arlington Heights, Flock Safety Agree to First Flock Camera System Contract with Privacy and Unauthorized Usage Penalties in Illinois
arlingtoncardinal.com
New contract
us/il/cook/village/arlington-heights
Mar 2, 2026 Arlington Heights first in Illinois to add financial penalties for police camera data misuse
Daily Herald ($)
us/il/cook/village/arlington-heights
Feb 10, 2026 Arlington Heights trustees want penalties in new license-plate camera contracts
Daily Herald ($)
us/il/cook/village/arlington-heights
Feb 7, 2026 As license plate readers expand in northern Illinois, privacy concerns and misuse claims grow
Shaw Local ($)
DeKalb County, IL us/il/dekalb
Will County, IL us/il/will
Jan 5, 2026 Illinois barred LMPD from data over misuse of surveillance tool
The Courier-Journal ($)
Illinois us/il
Dec 9, 2025 Council Bytes: New police bodycam contract adds ‘real-time crime center’ system
Evanston RoundTable
New contract
us/il/cook/city/evanston
Oct 21, 2025 Blue Island renews controversial Flock Safety license plate cameras
Chicago Tribune ($)
New contract
us/il/cook/city/blue-island
Sep 29, 2025 After Evanston fires Flock, it reinstalls license-plate readers, so Evanston covers them
Chicago Tribune ($)
us/il/cook/city/evanston
Sep 25, 2025 SPD to stick with Flock Safety
Illinois Times
Sangamon County, IL us/il/sangamon
Sep 24, 2025 Evanston orders Flock to remove reinstalled cameras
Evanston RoundTable
us/il/cook/city/evanston
Sep 6, 2025 Illinois Secretary of State audit finds Forest Park Police Department shared license plate reader data with immigration officials
ABC7 Chicago
us/il/cook/village/forest-park
Sep 5, 2025 Officials discover Forest Park license plate data shared with ICE
Forest Park Review
us/il/cook/village/forest-park
Aug 28, 2025 Evanston, Oak Park end contracts with Flock Safety, license plate reader company under investigation in Illinois
ABC7 Chicago
More coverage: Chicago Tribune
Contract canceled
us/il/cook/city/evanston
us/il/cook/village/oak-park
Aug 28, 2025 Galesburg reexamines license plate readers amid state allegations
WGIL
us/il/knox/city/galesburg
Aug 28, 2025 Homer Glen reconsiders license plate reader cameras amid state scrutiny of company
Chicago Tribune ($)
Will County, IL us/il/will
Aug 28, 2025 After Oak Park cut ties, state says Flock Safety broke the law
Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest
Contract canceled
us/il/cook/village/oak-park
Aug 27, 2025 Evanston Deactivates License Plate Cameras, Terminates Contract With Flock Safety
Patch
Contract canceled
us/il/cook/city/evanston
Aug 27, 2025 Hundreds of police departments use camera company accused of breaking state law
Capitol News Illinoisalso carried by 1 other outlet
Champaign County, IL us/il/champaign
Aug 26, 2025 Illinois orders end to Customs and Border Protection access to license plate readers in state
Jacksonville Journal-Courier ($)
Illinois us/il
Aug 25, 2025 Illinois orders Flock Safety to halt data sharing with Customs
CIProud.com
More coverage: GovTech
Peoria County, IL us/il/peoria
Illinois us/il
Aug 25, 2025 Audit shows Illinois license plate data shared with U.S. Customs, violating state law
MyStateline
Illinois us/il
Aug 12, 2025 IL Cop Shared His License Plate Reader Login, DEA Agent Used It In Immigration Searches
Patch
Illinois us/il
Aug 7, 2025 Oak Park terminates Flock license plate reader contract
Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest
Contract canceled
us/il/cook/village/oak-park
Jun 17, 2025 Several states accessed Danville license-plate data for ‘immigration’ reasons; Illinois cracking down
WCIA.com
us/il/vermilion/city/danville
Jun 16, 2025 FOIA records reveal Evanston data accessible to out-of-state police making ICE searches
Evanston RoundTable
us/il/cook/city/evanston
Jun 13, 2025 Dozens of outside agencies accessed Illinois license plate data, including to track woman for 'abortion-related matter'
Jacksonville Journal-Courier ($)
Illinois us/il
Jun 12, 2025 Giannoulias to crack down on Illinois agencies sharing license plate reader data with other states
WANDTV.com
More coverage: Chicago Tribune · Capitol News Illinois · 1340 WJOL · AdVantageNews.com
Illinois us/il
Johnson County, IL us/il/johnson
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
Jun 12, 2025 Mount Prospect police probed for sharing Illinois license plate reader data in Texas abortion case
Chicago Sun-Times ($)
us/il/cook/village/mount-prospect
Jun 12, 2025 Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias speaks on reports Texas police illegally accessed Illinois license plate reader data
ABC7 Chicago
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
Jun 9, 2025 Under bill, state highway cameras could be used to investigate human trafficking
Capitol News Illinois
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
Champaign County, IL us/il/champaign
Morgan County, IL us/il/morgan
May 29, 2025 Illinois Cops Gave ICE Access to More Than 5,000 Surveillance Cameras Nationwide
Reason Magazine
Illinois us/il
Jun 1, 2024 Lawsuit: Court should pull the plug on police license plate readers in Illinois
CWB Chicago
More coverage: NBC 5 Chicago
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
Feb 26, 2024 Ed Vogel: Illinois lawmakers are fooling themselves about license plate reader surveillance
Chicago Tribune ($)
Illinois us/il
Jan 20, 2024 Illinois State Police set to install license plate reader cameras in Lake County, possibly in McHenry County
Lake and McHenry County Scanner
Lake County, IL us/il/lake
McHenry County, IL us/il/mchenry
Aug 14, 2023 Feigenholtz measure creating new license plate camera privacy protections signed into law
Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus
Illinois us/il
Jun 8, 2023 Illinois bill would limit use of license plate readers for abortion seekers
FOX 2
More coverage: FOX 2 · OurQuadCities
Illinois us/il
Jun 8, 2023 Bill protecting license plate reader information awaiting Pritzker's signature
CBS News
Illinois us/il
Oct 4, 2022 Concerns remain surrounding proposal for real-time police surveillance program
Columbia Daily Tribune
us/il/monroe/city/columbia
Oct 3, 2022 Champaign Police say automated license plate readers are a tool to aid officers’ investigations
Illinois Public Media
Champaign County, IL us/il/champaign
Jun 15, 2022 Ill. to install more license plate reader cameras on highways
FOX 2
Illinois us/il
Apr 27, 2022 Illinois State Police installs more license plate reading cameras along Chicago expressways
ABC7 Chicago
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Apr 20, 2022 CPD’s growing use of cameras that read license plates leads to worries about data misuse
Chicago Sun-Times ($)
us/il/cook/city/chicago
Apr 12, 2022 Illinois House passes bill to scan license plates on highways
Illinois Policy
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
Jan 28, 2022 License plate reading cameras installed along Dan Ryan Expressway, Illinois State Police say
ABC7 Chicago
Cook County, IL us/il/cook
Aug 6, 2021 License Plate Reader Cameras Approved In Romeoville
Patch
us/il/will/village/romeoville

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