Survey Shows Strong Support for Security Cameras and ALPR in Public Spaces

Most people don’t want to choose between safety and privacy. They want both security technology deployed in public spaces and firm limits on how that technology is used, ensuring that their privacy is protected.

We recently commissioned The Harris Poll to survey Americans about how they think about security cameras, automated license plate readers, and the data those systems collect. The results reveal strong support for security technology but also expectations around data collection and retention.

People Trust Cameras to Help Solve Cases

Ninety-four percent of Americans said they would expect nearby security cameras to help solve a case if they were the victim of a crime in a public space, and 34% said they would expect cameras to solve the case completely. That expectation was consistent across demographic groups: results among income levels, generations, political affiliations, and urbanicity all fell between 90% and 98%.

Americans also showed strong confidence in video evidence: 44% said they would trust video security footage more than eyewitness accounts to provide an accurate record of a crime in a public space, and another 50% said they would trust both equally. Only 7% said they would trust eyewitness accounts more than video footage.

Automated License Plate Readers Increase Feelings of Safety

When asked about automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in retail and public parking lots, 78% said they would feel safer parking in a lot that uses ALPRs over one that does not. That support was bipartisan—Democrats and Republicans came in at 81% each.

People Want to Know When ALPRs Are in Use

Support for ALPR systems does not erase expectations of transparency. Eighty-seven percent of Americans said signs notifying people that ALPR is in use should be visible, and 47% said those signs should be highly visible. 

The data did show some differences by generation. A majority of Baby Boomers (56%) preferred highly visible signage, while a majority of Gen Z respondents (58%) preferred moderately visible signage.

Data Retention Can Make or Break Trust

People aren’t opposed to surveillance technology; they’re opposed to surveillance data sitting around indefinitely with no clear purpose. Sixty-seven percent of Americans said non-suspicious license plate data should be securely deleted within 30 days or less. Twenty-two percent want it deleted immediately and another 23% want it wiped within seven days. Only 16% support indefinite retention.

On the camera side, 47% said requiring video footage to be securely deleted after 30 days if no crime is detected would increase public trust in how companies and local municipalities use security cameras in public spaces. That was the top-selected trust-building practice in the survey, coming in above annual public reporting on camera use (44%), encrypted cloud storage (41%), and restrictions on government access without a judicial warrant (40%).

What This Data Means for Security Operators

The survey points to a public that has largely resolved the question of whether surveillance technology belongs in public spaces. It does. But there are governance questions that must be considered carefully: who controls the data, how long it is kept, and whether the public knows the systems are there.

For businesses and municipalities deploying security infrastructure, this survey data points to a few actionable takeaways:

• Post visible signage. Eighty-seven percent of Americans want to know when ALPRs are in use. Clear signage is the baseline expectation.
• Build a data retention policy and communicate it. The majority of Americans want non-suspicious data deleted within 30 days. Organizations can show that they take accountability for the data they collect seriously by defining and socializing clear retention windows. 
• Use bipartisan support as a business case. ALPRs earned 81% support from both Democrats and Republicans when it comes to feeling safer in a parking lot. In politically mixed communities, that may be a helpful data point when evaluating or defending a security investment.

Prioritize Privacy and Security with LVT

LVT (LiveView Technologies) offers best-in-class security systems that are visible, flexible, and scalable. They’re built to provide the coverage you need and support privacy. We also recently announced a partnership that brings automated license plate reading capabilities directly into these systems. 

If you’re interested in learning more about LVT LPR powered by Insight LPR, or you’d like to learn how LVT can help you fortify your security strategy, schedule a demo with our team.

Survey Methodology: 

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of LVT from March 23–25, 2026, among 2,089 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 2,035 are citizens of the U.S. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured using a Bayesian credible interval. The sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.