FLINT, Mich. — Kettering University student Josh Tewolde has filed a lawsuit against Genesee County after the county refused to release key public records concerning its use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras.

Represented by the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation, Tewolde is asking the Genesee County Circuit Court to require the county to disclose records requested under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act, including a map of Flock camera locations, audit logs showing who accessed the camera data and when, and records of scans involving Tewolde’s own vehicle.

Flock cameras capture images of every passing vehicle, including license plates and visible details such as make, model and color. The information is stored in a searchable database and can later be used in criminal investigations.

Tewolde requested records to understand how surveillance technology is being used in his community. While Genesee County produced some documents, it withheld the camera-location information, audit logs and vehicle-scan data. The county claimed that Flock owns the requested information even though Genesee County’s contract with Flock states that the county owns its data.

The lawsuit raises a broader question about whether government agencies can avoid Michigan FOIA obligations by routing surveillance operations through private vendors.

“I submitted these FOIA requests because I wanted to understand how surveillance technology is being used in my community,” Tewolde said. “The public deserves access to basic information about government surveillance, especially when it involves technology that can track people’s movements. This lawsuit is about transparency and accountability, so citizens can have an informed conversation about the balance between public safety and privacy.”

“This case is about a fundamental principle: When government uses surveillance technology, the public has a right to audit how it is being used,” said Steve Delie, senior attorney at the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation. “Genesee County can’t outsource transparency to a private vendor. If the county owns the data, FOIA applies — period.”

The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation filed the lawsuit in the Genesee County 7th Judicial Circuit Court on Tuesday, August 18. You can read the full complaint HERE.