PODCAST:
April 10, 2026 ~ Paris Lewbel, public relations manager for Flock Safety, explains how license plate readers function, how drone programs are being used in Oakland County, and what residents should know about privacy and public safety.
OAKLAND COUNTY ~ A new pilot program for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office faced intense scrutiny from residents over privacy and mass surveillance concerns.
A meeting of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday turned contentious when residents spoke for hours during public comments on a resolution to approve the sheriff’s office’s trial of new drones from the license plate reader company Flock. According to the sheriff’s office, the drones will be used to help with responding to 911 calls.
The trial will last through the rest of 2026, then turn into a $2.5 million, two-year program if the county doesn’t opt out.
Residents shared concerns over how the data collected by the drones might be used and the potential of Flock’s data being hacked. Despite the hefty backlash, the commissioners passed the resolution in a 13-4 vote.
