When you write down a license plate number you're not surveilling the owner of the car. The privacy being talked about here is being lost in the crowd—you're no

When you write down a license plate number you're not surveilling the owner of the car. The privacy being talked about here is being lost in the crowd—you're not protected from someone looking for your license plate but you are protected against some corporation or the authorities knowing everywhere you go in real time with perfect accuracy and recall.