FILE: A motorist whose car has its two front wheels opposing each other is pulled over by a policeman for a moving traffic violation.Reuters

The NSA isnt the only government agency raising concerns about electronic privacy. Local police departments are coming under similar scrutiny not only for using spying technology, but for hiding their use from the public.

At least 25 police departments now use what is known as "Stingray," a briefcase-sized box that swallows up cell phone data within a mile radius.

More than one in three large police departments are also using license-plate readers, which can record every plate-- even on a four-lane highway from vehicles going at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.

The technology is a remarkable crime-fighting tool, according to former D.C. homicide detective Rod Wheeler.

"Not just automobile thefts, but homicides, all kinds of robberies, so the technology is definitely something that's an asset to us," he said.

But in a May 1 article, Wired magazine reported that Harris Corporation,maker of the Stingray, and Vigilant Solutions, which sells license-plate readers, holds its police department buyers to vows of secrecy.

It reported that Vigilant's terms of service says: "This prohibition is specifically intended to prohibit users from cooperating with any media outlet.

Lon Anderson, with AAA, raised concerns about this provision.

"It's very worrisome, he said. I think we want police agencies to be as transparent as possible. There shouldn't be anything to hide here."

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THE NEXT NSA?Police under scrutiny for using spying technology