Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand on Tuesday brushed off concerns of a potential “surveillance state” in his city amid growing outcry against Flock cameras.
Flock cameras, or automated license plate readers (ALPR), are artificial intelligence-powered devices which can capture unique identifying details about vehicles, like bumper stickers, color, or aftermarket modifications. This information is categorized into a searchable database for law enforcement to investigate crimes, track stolen vehicles, and generate real-time alerts on “hot lists.”
Public crowdsource data site DeFlock.Me shows reports of at least 38 such cameras in use within official Grand Rapids city limits. The site also shows as many as 150 cameras throughout the surrounding metro area.
Sightings of several ALPR cameras within Grand Rapids city limits have already sparked a community push to ban them, though no formal action has yet been taken.
The mayor acknowledged local concern surrounding AI-powered Flock cameras, adding that he does not believe there is merit to “surveillance state” concerns. His comments came in an appearance on GRTV, a component of a local media network linked to both city dollars and a nationwide network of progressive donors.
“I don’t want to live in a surveillance state,” Mayor LaGrand said, adding that “we all opted into that.”
LaGrand likened surveillance concerns to identity theft, which stems from retailers who create similar credit card databases. He argued that both cases come with inherent risk, which is the price one pays for convenience.
Despite this, the mayor assured residents the cameras are not being used to monitor people.
“This is a license plate reader, that’s all that Flock cameras do, they don’t check people’s hair color or whatever,” he said. “Could they? I suppose they could. I don’t know. I’m not an expert.”
Mayor LaGrand also denied concerns the cameras are being used in cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
“GR does not share Flock data,” he said. “We have a very tight limit on what our Flock cameras are used for.”
The mayor’s remarks follow a February announcement by Rep. Hillary Scholten that she had secured $750,000 for Kent County’s Real Time Information Center, which utilizes ALPR cameras. That grant taps into a well of federal dollars earmarked by Congress for local “community support” initiatives.
“This investment will strengthen public safety, while protecting privacy, and support the work being done every day to keep our community safe,” Rep. Scholten wrote about the grant.
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