COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Michigan’s gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Republican John James, have publicly outlined their positions on the expanding use of Flock Safety automatic license plate readers amid escalating privacy concerns across the state.
The technology, widely deployed by over 180 law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan, has drawn intense scrutiny regarding data retention, distribution, and overall transparency.
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a statement forcefully demanded stricter oversight, asserting that “Michiganders deserve basic transparency regarding where their data goes and who accesses it”. Benson vowed to collaborate with the state legislature to codify explicit regulations dictating camera usage, data access parameters, mandatory sharing boundaries, and expiration timelines to protect personal privacy.
Meanwhile James, the Republican nominee for governor, instead emphasized a constitutional equilibrium. James declared that while the Fourth Amendment and the right to privacy are completely “non-negotiable,” the state must simultaneously ensure law enforcement has the capabilities to apprehend bad actors and protect innocent lives.
The political intersection of public safety and artificial intelligence surveillance has transformed into a hot button issue ahead of the November election.
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