- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Back Seat Big Brother: Dubai Tests Smart License Plates That Talk to Police

© AP Photo / Kamran JebreiliIn this Thursday May 19, 2016 photo, Dubai police women walk towards their luxury cars during a demonstration in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
In this Thursday May 19, 2016 photo, Dubai police women walk towards their luxury cars during a demonstration in Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, will start testing digital smart plates - as opposed to traditional license plates - next month. The smart plates will be equipped with digital screens, GPS and transmitters.

Head of the Vehicle Licensing Department at Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Sultan Abdullah al-Marzouqi said at the Future Cities Show in Dubai on Monday that "The digital plate will also allow vehicles to connect with each other — that's why it's ‘Tag to Connect' — meaning, motorists can exchange information on traffic condition or if there is an accident on the road. All this information will be connected to the central command system of the RTA."

The plates are touted as a safeguard against vehicle fatalities and thievery, alerting authorities in either situation. The plate will even flash "stolen" in the event of a carjacking. The plates also allow transportation officials to track drivers, ostensibly to respond to those situations. However Western media have raised concerns about privacy. 

The city of Dubai next to lake at night-time, United Arab Emirates - Sputnik International
First 3D-Printed Villas to Be Unveiled in Dubai Soon

Fines, parking fees and payments for renewing your registration plate will also be automatically deducted from Dubai residents' accounts. The numbers on your plate can also be changed remotely using RTA's phone app or website. Because of this, the smart plates are vulnerable to hacking, according to The Verge.

While it is not clear whether or not the smart plates in Dubai will be exploited, license plate databases have long been a surveillance tool used by law enforcement in the United States, including by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. An AP investigation found that police officers regularly use such databases to snoop on their romantic interests, among other abuses. 

Robocop in Dubai - Sputnik International
Dubai Streets Safer as Police Force Recruits First Ever ‘Robocop’ (VIDEO)

Dubai has been investing heavily in its technology sector. It's already known for its firefighters, who are equipped with water jetpacks, and the drone taxis it's testing. The city plans also to have high-speed Hyperloop pods available to its residents by 2020. The pods would be capable of transporting passengers to Abu Dhabi, UAE's capital, in 12 minutes, a distance that takes around 80 minutes to drive. Dubai officials also plan for self-driving cars to make up 25 percent of all trips in the city by 2030.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала