Flock cameras won’t be used at Michigan Capitol, but other technology is drawing concerns
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LANSING, Mich. (News 10) – The Michigan State Capitol Commission is no longer moving forward with plans to add Flock cameras or any other automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) around the state Capitol.
Local organizations, including DeFlock Lansing, applauded the decision during Monday’s commission meeting. Despite the news, many still attended the meeting.
John Warmb, of DeFlock Lansing, had planned to speak in opposition to the addition of Flock cameras, but said that opposition was not needed.
“I just want to thank you for not going forward with these plans, listening to the concerns that a lot of the people in this room have today,” Warmb said.
The Capitol Commission’s Executive Director Robert Blackshaw said there are no plans to move forward with any other ALPRs.
“Not that I’m aware of, at this point,” he said.
Blackshaw followed up by saying they are “looking at everything.”
“We really want to educate ourselves to see what technologies are out there to help prevent [other technologies] from coming in,” Blackshaw said.
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Drone technology remains under discussion
Blackshaw spoke about the potential use of drones around the Capitol and how emerging technologies could be utilized. He told commissioners about an upcoming drone summit at Camp Grayling called “The Guardian Sky Summit.”
The summit will have vendors and contractors “demonstrate their systems against drone threats in a controlled, real-world environment,” he said.
Blackshaw told commissioners the Capitol building is “constantly” receiving threats and it is the commission’s “responsibility” to explore and educate themselves on what they detect, mitigate, and enforce around their airspace.
Warmb said the technology shares similar problems as ALPRs, particularly autonomous drones.
“A lot of them use the same technology, license plate reader technology and thermal imaging; they’re subject to the same issues of privacy and security and warrantless surveillance that we have an issue with, with the ALPRs,” Warmb said.
Warmb said if plans move forward, which he hopes they don’t, he would like to see transparency throughout the process as well as “robust public discussion,” before decisions are made.
Blackshaw said the invitation to Camp Grayling does not mean the commission is moving forward with adding drones, but that the commission is looking into them.
“In any industry, any discipline, the tools are getting better, the computers are getting better, the cameras are getting better…It’s our responsibility to look at all this to see if it applies and fits into our system,” Blackshaw said.
Blackshaw said as drones evolve, they need to be able to act quickly to protect the Capitol and the people inside.
“AI is everywhere around us, so it’s definitely something that needs to be asked and needs to be thought about. If you don’t, you’re not being responsible,” Blackshaw said.
Warmb said while he appreciates the commission’s decision regarding automatic license plate readers, he would like to see an announcement in writing to make sure another company does not take Flock’s place.
Blackshaw did not say whether recent opposition to Flock cameras, specifically in the city of Lansing, had anything to do with the commission’s decision. He said everyone’s voice was important, and that opposing groups were often asking the same questions the commission asks itself.
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