Madison Heights to disconnect city-run Flock license plate reader cameras

Madison Heights, Michigan, says it will disconnect the Flock license plate reader cameras it runs and will not renew the contract when it expires. The city’s decision, announced in a Sunday news release, followed a review of the program and its “responsibility to ensure that any technology in use meets established standards for accountability, privacy, and operational integrity.” Flock cameras record vehicle activity at specific places and times, capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, and can help authorized users find evidence. The company faced scrutiny in August after a Washington Post report alleged misuse by officers. Madison Heights had three cameras; no new data has been collected since Sept. 23.