On April 8, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners passed “Project Prove-It” with a vote of 13-4. The proposal began a nine-month program between Oakland County and security manufacturer Flock Safety/Flock Group, specializing in the use of drones operated by police and other first responders. The project, if agreed upon, could expand to a three-year, $2.5 million extension.
This wasn’t the first time the two parties agreed to terms. In 2023, multiple counties across the country agreed to terms with the company for the use of AI-driven security camera tools, including license plate readers, person lookup tools and PTZ Condor cameras. Oakland County was one of them.
The proposal and subsequent vote did not sit well with residents, who began to boo after they were denied a chance to speak beforehand. The backlash continued after the meeting as residents took their concerns to social media, creating posts and a petition that received more than 5,500 signatures. The attention led Oakland County Commissioner Charlie Cavell to announce a proposal for a 12-month moratorium. On April 30, activists attended the meeting carrying signs calling for the recall of board member David Woodward, who told them to remain quiet as they continued to boo.
Some residents have taken a more physical approach in response to the deal, with 24-year-old Spencer Anderson of Clarkston facing charges for destroying $10,000 worth of Flock property. He now faces three felony charges for malicious destruction of police property and up to four years in prison, along with a $5,000 fine. He was released on a $500 bond and is awaiting further proceedings.
The pushback isn’t just local. People across the country have taken action. A national week of action against Flock has been scheduled for Aug. 16-22 by a group named Deflock, the creators of an app called “deflock.me” that specializes in mapping license plate readers. Flock CEO Garrett Langley responded by labeling the group a “terrorist group” in an interview with Forbes and has spent money trying to discredit it, including sending a cease-and-desist letter to Deflock creator Will Freeman.
Flock also has drawn controversy because of its investors, primarily Founders Fund, which describes itself as “a venture capital firm investing in smart people solving difficult problems.” The firm is led by Peter Thiel, chairman of Palantir Technologies. Palantir and Flock share similar goals, as Palantir has worked with U.S. government agencies on information and data extraction aimed at improving public safety through AI-driven surveillance. Like Flock, Palantir has faced criticism for its involvement in ICE raids, mass surveillance of U.S. citizens and allegations that it enabled AI targeting in the ongoing war in Gaza, according to the United Nations.
As the project enters its second month, concerns about mass surveillance have grown. Reports from across the country describe officers using Flock cameras to stalk and target civilians, resulting in numerous terminations and arrests. Those incidents have led Oakland County residents to fear similar abuses.
It remains uncertain how Oakland County will respond to the backlash. Mentions of a moratorium proposed by board members such as Charlie Cavell contrast with the possibility of a three-year, $2.5 million extension with Flock Security. There is also the possibility that the deal could expire without renewal. Whatever happens next, residents are determined to have a say.
