Michigan license plate cameras face backlash: Big help, or Big Brother?

February 3, 2026

Over 125 Michigan cities and counties have installed automated license plate reader cameras, primarily contracted through Atlanta-based Flock Safety, which law enforcement promotes as a crime-solving tool but privacy advocates increasingly oppose. The surveillance technology photographs every passing vehicle and stores data for 30 days, raising concerns about mass tracking of law-abiding citizens and potential data sharing with federal agencies like ICE, particularly amid heightened deportation efforts. While some communities like Bay City and Ferndale have canceled their Flock contracts in response to public pressure, others including Waterford Township continue expanding their camera networks despite resident opposition.

Who is affected

Residents and drivers in over 125 Michigan cities and counties where cameras are installed
Privacy advocates and community members opposing the technology
Local law enforcement agencies using the cameras
Flock Safety (the Atlanta-based contractor)
Specific communities: Lapeer County, Bay City, Ferndale, Detroit, Waterford Township, and Grand Rapids
Missing persons and crime victims whom police seek to locate
Potentially undocumented immigrants who may be tracked through ICE data requests
City council members and county commissioners making decisions about the technology
ACLU of Michigan and Electronic Frontier Foundation advocacy organizations

What action is being taken

Some cities including Bay City and Ferndale have backed out of Flock contracts and are reassessing their use of license plate readers
Detroit city council members requested a report on how data from the city's 500+ cameras is used
Waterford Township approved a three-year, $60,000 video integration add-on to its Flock contract and is adding Flock-powered drones
Ferndale is working on passing a separate ordinance addressing privacy protections scheduled for February
Lapeer County commissioners are continuing discussions on whether to move forward with Flock cameras
Local and state police across the country are performing searches for federal partners including ICE
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is analyzing nationwide searches on Flock servers

Why it matters

This technology represents a fundamental tension between public safety and privacy rights, as it enables 24/7 surveillance of all drivers—the vast majority of whom will never be charged with crimes—and creates extensive travel data showing patterns of people's movements. The 30-day data retention allows anyone with access to gain detailed insights into individuals' daily routines and whereabouts. The significance has intensified amid the Trump administration's deportation campaign, as data sharing with federal agencies like ICE becomes a realistic concern even though Flock doesn't directly share with federal entities. Without state-level regulation in Michigan, the patchwork of local policies means data protection varies dramatically by location, and because agencies often share data across boundaries, residents' information may flow well beyond their own community's control, making cities both "the last line of defense against federal encroachment" and "the first line of exposure."

What's next

Ferndale has a privacy protection ordinance and surveillance technology oversight measure scheduled to come before council in February
Lapeer County commissioners plan to continue discussions on Flock cameras next month
Ferndale aims to finalize approval of its tentative five-year contract with Axon (contingent on the February ordinance passing)
Detroit expects to receive a report on how license plate reader data is used following council's request

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com