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Inside Uzbekistan’s nationwide license plate surveillance system
Uzbekistan's nationwide license plate surveillance system, with high-resolution cameras scanning vehicles, has been left exposed on the internet. The system, monitoring traffic violations and tracking vehicles, highlights significant privacy risks. Discovered by security researcher Anurag Sen, this lapse mirrors previous global concerns over unsecured surveillance technology. The Uzbek government has not responded to inquiries regarding this exposure.
Key points
- The surveillance system consists of around 100 high-resolution cameras located across Uzbekistan.
- Cameras monitor traffic violations, including running red lights and not wearing seatbelts.
- The system was exposed on the internet, allowing unauthorized access to its database since mid-2025.
- Researcher Anurag Sen reported the security issue, revealing extensive tracking of vehicles over six months.
- The cameras are operated by Uzbekistan's Department of Public Security, which did not respond to inquiries.
- The surveillance technology is provided by Maxvision, a company based in Shenzhen, China.
Why it matters
- This incident relates to concerns over surveillance and privacy risks in various global contexts.
- In the U.S., a similar incident occurred where dozens of license plate reading cameras were exposed online, raising alarms about data security.
- The trend of increasing surveillance technology usage is aligned with broader IT concerns about cybersecurity and privacy protections in 2025.
The exposure of Uzbekistan's license plate surveillance system underscores urgent privacy and security challenges in government monitoring systems, reflecting ongoing global discussions about the balance between law enforcement and individual rights.