Jonathan Hofer is a research associate at the Independent Institute. He holds a BA in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. He has written extensively on both California and national public policy issues. His research interests include privacy law, local surveillance, and the impact of emerging technologies on civil liberties. He is the author of COVID in California and Automated License Plate Readers: A Study in Failure, and his articles have appeared in such publications as The Hill, Towards Data Science, Human Events, The American Conservative, Real Clear Education, California Globe, Orange County Register, and The Daily Californian.