Mar. 11, 2005 – The Michigan State Police department announced earlier this week that it will drop out of a controversial data-sharing program that had come under fire for possible privacy violations.
The Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange (MATRIX) is a massive database that compiles detailed personal information from public records and private companies. Though the privately-run database has gained the financial backing of the federal government, it has also raised the ire of civil libertarians concerned over potential abuses of the unprecedented amount of personal information compiled by the program.
Since its inception, MATRIX has lost rather than gained support, with most of the thirteen states participating in its pilot program withdrawing. When Michigan ends its use of the database in mid-March, only four states will remain.
The American Civil Liberties Union had sued the Michigan State Police on behalf of several Michigan residents on the grounds that the state?s participation in the program violated a state law prohibiting police from sharing information about Michigan citizens with federal law enforcement agencies.
While citing costs and the diminished value of the program as fewer states participate, Michigan police said the ACLU lawsuit was not a major factor in the decision to withdraw from the program.
