Michigan State Police drop out of anti-terrorism network

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw112629_20050307.htm

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- State police officials said Monday the agency will drop out of a data-collecting system that came under fire for sharing and collecting personal information between participating states.

The Michigan State Police said it will stop participating in the federally funded Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange, or MATRIX, when the pilot project ends March 18.

The program collects data, including driver's license and criminal history information, and shares access with participating states. It was intended to make it easier to exchange information between law enforcement agencies across the country.

The Michigan State Police said the lack of participating states diminished the value of the project. When the state joined the pilot project in December 2003, it was one of 13 participating states and the network represented about half of the country's population and half of reported crime. Four states will remain after Michigan leaves -- Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut and Florida, a MATRIX spokesman said.

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