LANSING — Democratic candidate for governor Jocelyn Benson vowed to pursue new regulations for Flock Safety cameras on Sept. 2, while Republican contender John James said balance between the right to privacy and the need to put bad actors away was "the key approach."
In recent months, debate has raged in some Michigan communities about the Atlanta-based technology company, which is most known for its network of automatic license plate readers. Flock Safety says their products "help solve and reduce crime across the country," but critics worry about the cameras' constant surveillance and the flow of personal data.
Earlier this week, Florida officials ordered local law enforcement agencies in their state to remove the readers from state highway rights of way, citing privacy concerns and reports of misuse, according to USA Today.
"I think it's out of control," Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said of license plate readers recently.
Asked during a Sept. 2 press conference about Florida's move, James, a U.S. House member from Shelby Township, said the right to privacy is "non-negotiable."
"We also need to make sure that we are working within the Constitution to keep innocent people safe and put bad actors away," James said, before vowing to "protect the privacy of Michiganders and also enforce the law."
More than 180 law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan use Flock license plate readers.
Ferndale, a liberal enclave in Oakland County's south end on Detroit's border, was one of the first cities in southeast Michigan to distance itself from Flock. Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi canceled the city's Flock contract without a city council vote in November.
Emmi's decision came after a push from Councilwoman Laura Mikulski. She became concerned when she received an audit log detailing who had searched Ferndale's Flock network from September 2024 to September 2025. Dallas and Houston police were the top searchers of Ferndale's ALPR system, followed by Michigan State Police.
"It just proved out the point that anybody could access the data if they were part of the Flock ecosystem," Mikulski said. "They could access it for any reason."
In a statement, Benson, the current secretary of state from Detroit, said Michigan residents aren't getting basic transparency from the camera systems.
"I hear from people across Michigan who drive past a Flock camera every day and have no idea what happens to that picture after it's taken: who sees it, how long it's kept or whether it's shared with agencies they've never heard of," Benson said.
"I'll work with the Legislature to pass clear rules for how these cameras are used, who can access the data, when it can be shared and when it must be deleted," Benson added. "We can protect public safety and personal privacy when government is transparent about how it uses technology and is accountable for the power it has."
Benson and James will square off to be Michigan's next leader in the Nov. 3 election. Michigan's current governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, can't run for reelection this year because of term limits.
Staff Writer Max Bryan contributed.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Jocelyn Benson, John James weigh in on Flock cameras