Uzbekistan’s License Plate Surveillance System Exposed Online
A massive nationwide surveillance network in Uzbekistan—designed to monitor traffic violations using high-resolution license plate recognition cameras—was recently found fully exposed to the public internet. Security researcher Anurag Sen discovered the system unprotected by passwords or basic security measures, granting anyone with a web browser access to real-time vehicle tracking data, driver images, and raw video footage. The exposure offers alarming insights into how governments can track citizens’ movements on a scale previously hidden from public view.
What the Exposed System Reveals
Sen’s discovery unearthed a sprawling digital infrastructure operated by Uzbekistan’s Department of Public Security under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The system includes roughly 100 camera clusters positioned along major roads and urban centers, capturing thousands of vehicles daily. Each scan logs not only license plate numbers but also time-stamped geolocation data, driver appearance, and even seatbelt usage. For one individual tracked extensively over six months, the data showed repeated commutes between Chirchiq, Tashkent, and Eshonguzar—painting a detailed map of daily life.
When Surveillance Goes Unsecured
The database appears to have been set up in September 2024, with active monitoring beginning around mid-2025. Yet, despite holding sensitive information on millions of vehicle movements, the system lacked even elementary cybersecurity safeguards. No password. No encryption. No access controls. This oversight left open a window not just for curious researchers like Sen—but potentially for malicious actors, foreign intelligence agencies, or opportunistic hackers looking to exploit personal data.
Privacy Risks of Mass Vehicle Tracking
Uzbekistan’s exposed system highlights the inherent privacy dangers of mass surveillance infrastructure. Unlike targeted law enforcement tools, license plate recognition (LPR) systems passively log every passing vehicle—innocent or not. That data, when aggregated, can reconstruct a person’s routines, associates, and even political or religious affiliations based on location patterns. In authoritarian or semi-authoritarian states, such databases become powerful instruments of social control, chilling free movement and expression.
A Global Pattern of LPR Overreach
This isn’t an isolated incident. Earlier in December 2025, U.S.-based outlet 404 Media reported that Flock Safety—a major provider of license plate readers to American law enforcement and neighborhood groups—had accidentally exposed dozens of its cameras online. A reporter was able to watch their own car being tracked in real time. As countries like the U.S. and Uzbekistan expand LPR use, consistent security and oversight remain glaringly absent, raising urgent questions about accountability.
Who Runs Uzbekistan’s Surveillance Network?
According to internal metadata and government documents accessed through the exposed system, the network is managed directly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tashkent. While the Uzbek government has promoted the system as a tool for reducing traffic violations and improving road safety, there’s no public transparency about data retention policies, access protocols, or third-party sharing agreements. Multiple attempts by TechCrunch to reach Uzbek officials—including diplomatic missions in Washington D.C. and New York—went unanswered.
The Role of National CERTs in Crisis Response
Uzbekistan’s national cybersecurity team, UZCERT, received an alert about the exposure but only issued an automated acknowledgment. The lack of follow-up raises concerns about the country’s incident response readiness. In an era where digital infrastructure underpins public safety, delayed or absent cybersecurity protocols risk not just data—but national trust. Experts warn that without robust internal audits, more systems like this may remain vulnerable for months or even years.
What This Means for Ordinary Citizens
For everyday drivers in Uzbekistan, the exposure means their movements may have already been monitored, recorded, and accessible to strangers. Even if the government’s intent is limited to traffic enforcement, the existence of such granular, persistent tracking creates opportunities for misuse—whether by corrupt officials, hackers, or future administrations with fewer scruples. Without legal safeguards or independent oversight, citizens are left with little recourse.
Technology Outpaces Regulation
The rapid rollout of AI-powered surveillance tools continues to outpace legal and ethical frameworks worldwide. Uzbekistan’s system, while technologically sophisticated, operates in a legal gray zone. There’s no public record of parliamentary debate, public consultation, or judicial review surrounding its deployment. This imbalance—between capability and accountability—is a growing concern for digital rights advocates globally.
Lessons for the Future of Smart Surveillance
The Uzbekistan leak should serve as a wake-up call for governments investing in smart city infrastructure. Surveillance systems must be designed with privacy and security as foundational principles—not afterthoughts. That includes mandatory encryption, strict access controls, regular penetration testing, and clear data minimization policies. Most importantly, citizens deserve to know what data is collected, how long it’s stored, and who can access it.
Why This Story Matters Beyond Borders
While the exposed system is located in Central Asia, its implications are global. As more countries adopt similar LPR networks—often justified as tools for public safety—the Uzbekistan case proves how easily these systems can become liabilities. Without international standards for surveillance technology and data governance, every new camera installed becomes another potential breach waiting to happen.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
For now, Sen has responsibly disclosed the vulnerability, and the database appears to have been taken offline as of late December 2025. But the damage may already be done. The incident underscores a critical truth in 2025: in the race to build safer, smarter cities, we must not sacrifice security, transparency, or human rights along the way. Surveillance without safeguards isn’t public safety—it’s surveillance without accountability.
