Michael Addison
Role at the time: United Citizens Party candidate for governor of South Carolina, in an email to Dispute Index
Statement summary
Michael Addison, the United Citizens candidate for South Carolina governor, said in an email to Dispute Index that he supports police use of Flock-style cameras to investigate crimes but opposes their use for spying, political targeting or monitoring people at a church, meeting or lawful protest, and proposed six statewide safeguards, including judicial authorization for prolonged tracking and short retention limits.
“I would support these networks only when enforceable safeguards protect both.”
Read the full email
I support changes to the use of Flock-style license plate camera networks in South Carolina. I support law enforcement using them to investigate crimes and identify vehicles connected to those crimes. I oppose their use for personal spying, political targeting, or monitoring people simply because they attend a church, meeting, or lawful protest. As governor, I would work with the General Assembly to establish clear, enforceable statewide safeguards: 1. Accountable access: Require a documented investigative or emergency purpose for every database search and watchlist entry, restrict access to trained personnel, and log all activity. 2. Judicial oversight: Require judicial authorization for prolonged tracking of a person's movements, with narrow emergency exceptions and prompt judicial review afterward. 3. Limited retention: Set a short, firm deadline for deleting routine scans, allowing longer preservation only for evidence connected to a documented case. 4. Controlled sharing: Prohibit selling the data and unrestricted sharing. Other agencies must identify an authorized purpose and follow the same privacy rules. 5. Accuracy: Require human verification of camera alerts before officers take enforcement action. 6. Enforcement: Require independent audits, public reporting on use and effectiveness, and meaningful penalties for misuse. South Carolinians deserve effective law enforcement and protection of their constitutional rights. I would support these networks only when enforceable safeguards protect both.
Michael Addison sent this statement by email from his campaign address in reply to a Dispute Index question on Flock-style license-plate cameras. The link is to his campaign website; the statement itself is not published there. The text is reproduced as sent.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The case asks whether Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks should exist. Addison supports investigative use but conditions it on enforceable safeguards and opposes surveillance of lawful activity, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional. The strongest remedy he proposes is judicial authorization for prolonged tracking of a person's movements, so we placed it at Warrant on the remedy ladder, although his warrant rule covers prolonged tracking rather than every search.