Opioid Money Funding Surveillance Tech | Charleston News

West Virginia counties and cities are quietly using opioid settlement funds to buy AI-powered license plate readers, sparking a fierce debate over privacy, legality, and the ethical use of recovery money. While law enforcement sees these cameras as vital for public safety, civil liberties groups warn they violate Fourth Amendment rights—especially after the Supreme Court affirmed location privacy. The controversy deepens as lawmakers shift control of future settlements to the state legislature, leaving local governments to decide how to spend their own funds. Critics argue surveillance tech is a misuse of resources that could better fund addiction treatment—and may soon be deemed unconstitutional. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ea0aada4c1f33cdc