SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is speaking out after Texas police illegally accessed Illinois license plate reader data to track down a woman.

“Last week we received disturbing news that police in Texas illegally accessed data from automatic license plate readers used throughout Illinois, they did so to track down a woman. Regarding an abortion care related matter," said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

This is the kind of misuse Giannoulias has been trying to prevent. In 2023, he championed a first-in-the-nation law that bans out-of-state police from using Illinois ALPR data to target people over abortion or immigration status.

“Automatic license plate readers are there to prevent violent crime, to prevent carjacking, to find stolen vehicles, and to help when there's a kidnapping right, that's what they are used for when this data is being used," said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

Sarah Garza Resnick, CEO of Personal PAC, an organization focused on protecting abortion rights in Illinois, says the state must remain a safe place for abortion care.

“Illinois must provide safe abortion care without fear of surveillance or criminalization from bad actors within our borders and beyond,” said Sarah Garza Resnick, CEO of Personal PAC.

Giannoulias says that’s why his office is taking action.

They’ve instructed Flock, the ALPR operator, to cut off access to agencies breaking Illinois law.

“We've been in contact with the Illinois Attorney General's office to determine what else can be done to ensure that the laws of our state are upheld," said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

During his remarks, Giannoulias said license plate readers are important tools for law enforcement—but they need to be regulated to prevent innocent people from being harassed.

Secretary Giannoulias says 46 jurisdictions broke the law—and their access has been revoked.