Oakland County Approves Controversial Drone Program Amid Privacy Concerns

• •Oakland County approved a nine-month drone pilot program to assist in emergency responses.
• •Residents are concerned about privacy and data security related to the drone program.
• •Flock Safety claims all data will be encrypted and owned by the Sheriff's Office.

On April 12, 2026, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved a pilot drone program called 'Project Prove It' to assist the Sheriff's Office in responding to 911 calls. The program, which is free for the first nine months, could cost $2.5 million if extended. Residents expressed significant concern over privacy issues and data security during a heated meeting, with fears that data collected could be hacked. The program allows drones to be deployed primarily for mental health crises and locating missing persons. An amendment was adopted to ensure that data collected would remain the property of the Sheriff’s Office and not be retained by Flock Safety, the company providing the drones. Despite assurances from Flock Safety about data encryption and access restrictions, many residents remain skeptical about the safety of the data. The Sheriff’s Office has previously used drones under its Drones as First Responders program, responding to emergencies within 90 seconds. The approval has sparked ongoing debates about surveillance and privacy rights in the community.