So the very first assertion the article makes is that this creates a giant database of sensitive information (presumably the license plates).

That’s just straight up not true? How can you write an article about this and make such a basic wrong assertion.

Any reasonable system would work as such: Scan plate -> is it allowed to be here? -> if noy store violation, if yes don’t send data

EDIT:

It seems like they really do be scanning every single license plate and storing it for no reason.