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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Politics
Bernadette B. Tixon

Trump Administration Uses 1980s Anti-Drug Programme to Funnel Cities' Licence Plate Data for Surveillance

US licence plate camera data is reportedly being pooled on federal servers under the HIDTA programme. (Credit: Francesco Ungaro/Pexels)

Licence plate cameras run by American cities and counties are feeding a federal anti-drug programme, according to public records and court documents reviewed by 404 Media. The records show local data being pooled on federal servers that officers from other agencies can search.

The HIDTA programme, which the Trump administration funded with an additional $277 million in July 2026, collects and shares the data. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy oversees HIDTA.

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