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Two Lynn, Massachusetts, Officers Placed on Leave Following Audit of Flock License Plate Reader System

Two Lynn, Massachusetts, Officers Placed on Leave Following Audit of Flock License Plate Reader System

Two police officers in Lynn, Massachusetts, have been placed on paid administrative leave after an audit of the department's license plate reader technology, including systems from Flock Safety, revealed a 'concerning pattern in some searches.' The Lynn Police Department uses these license plate readers to assist in locating wanted individuals, investigating crimes, and searching for missing persons. The audit was initiated on August 12 with the implementation of Flock Safety’s Audit Assist tool, designed to review system usage. This tool identified anomalies in searches that prompted further review, leading to the internal affairs investigation and the officers' administrative leave. The department has not identified the officers or provided specific details about the nature of the problematic searches, but confirmed that none involved immigration enforcement. In response, access to the Flock system has been restricted to supervisory personnel at the rank of lieutenant or higher while the department revie...

Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Terminates 'Unlawful' Flock Safety Contract Following Legal Review

Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Terminates 'Unlawful' Flock Safety Contract Following Legal Review

Hopkinton, Massachusetts, has terminated its contract with Flock Safety, a provider of automated license plate reader technology, effective immediately. This decision came after a legal review determined that the agreement did not comply with Massachusetts procurement law, rendering it 'unlawful.' Town Manager Elaine Lazarus stated that municipal contracts must adhere to procurement law, and deficiencies in the existing contract prompted the termination. Officials have instructed Flock Safety to deactivate its cameras immediately and remove them by September 30. The town plans to conduct a broader review of law enforcement tools and technology used by the Hopkinton Police Department, including automated license plate readers, to assess operational needs, privacy protections, oversight, transparency, and procurement processes. This action follows similar moves by other Massachusetts communities, including Lynn, New Bedford, Littleton, Salem, Framingham, and Cambridge, which have also paused, terminated, or ...

Massachusetts Police Departments Face Scrutiny Over Misuse of Flock Safety License Plate Reader System

Massachusetts Police Departments Face Scrutiny Over Misuse of Flock Safety License Plate Reader System

Several police departments in Massachusetts are under increased scrutiny regarding their use of Flock Safety's automated license plate reader (ALPR) system. The Lynn Police Department has placed two officers on paid administrative leave and initiated an internal investigation after an audit revealed a 'concerning pattern in some searches' within their Flock Safety system. Access to the cameras has since been restricted to supervisory personnel. This follows similar incidents in other Massachusetts towns. The New Bedford Police Department suspended its Flock camera use after an officer was accused of using the system to track her ex-girlfriend. In Stow, police disabled their Flock cameras and an officer faces termination and criminal charges for allegedly using police databases, including Flock cameras, to obtain information about someone he knew personally. Additionally, the town of Hopkinton is terminating its contract with Flock Safety due to 'statutory deficiencies' making the agreement unlawful under M...

Quincy Police Department Limits Access to Flock License Plate Camera Data Amid Misuse Concerns

Quincy Police Department Limits Access to Flock License Plate Camera Data Amid Misuse Concerns

The Quincy Police Department has restricted access to Flock Safety’s license plate camera platform to only 50 out of its approximately 240 officers. This decision follows growing concerns and reports of misuse of the surveillance technology across Massachusetts. Searches conducted by Quincy police are now audited and must be linked to an investigation with a case number, and confined to the city’s borders. This move comes as other departments in the state, such as Wellesley, have ended their pilot programs or contracts with Flock Safety due to similar issues. The broader context includes multiple investigations into police officers for misusing the technology, including cases of alleged stalking and unauthorized tracking of individuals. Critics argue that the technology facilitates widespread sharing of personal data and intrusive searches without warrants, and some departments have cooperated with federal agents for immigration purposes.

Atlantic Columnist Defends Flock Safety's ALPR Technology Amidst Growing Scrutiny

Atlantic Columnist Defends Flock Safety's ALPR Technology Amidst Growing Scrutiny

Charles Lehman, an Atlantic columnist and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, has published an article defending Flock Safety's automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. This defense comes as Flock Safety faces increasing criticism and cities nationwide consider ditching the technology due to concerns over privacy and potential abuse. Critics argue that ALPRs, which have rapidly spread from homeowners' associations to police departments, are being used to track individuals seeking legal abortion options in other states, and that federal officers are leveraging local law enforcement to bypass legal restrictions on their own searches. There are also documented instances of officers misusing the technology for personal reasons, such as tracking ex-partners. Lehman's article suggests that while research on Flock's effectiveness is still developing, ALPRs are likely a valuable tool for modern police forces and that privacy concerns can be addressed through 'smart regulation' rather than outright bans. He...

Knox County Voters Oppose Flock Safety Cameras, Creating Liability for Candidates

Knox County Voters Oppose Flock Safety Cameras, Creating Liability for Candidates

A recent poll conducted by Spry Strategies, a local Republican polling firm, reveals that 58% of Knox County residents reject the use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras by police. The survey of 350 likely voters found widespread awareness of the controversy surrounding these AI-enabled license plate readers and surveillance cameras. Opposition to the cameras crosses party lines, with 49% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats, and 58% of independents expressing disapproval. This sentiment makes support for Flock cameras a potential liability for candidates, as 55% of respondents indicated they would be less likely to vote for someone who supports them. The Knox County Sheriff's Office had previously contracted with Flock and installed cameras, but the rollout was paused by outgoing Sheriff Tom Spangler. The company has since announced new privacy and data protection features in response to public concerns, including instances where officers allegedly abused the system to track personal contacts. Knox County co...

Flock AI Surveillance Cameras Face Widespread Backlash and Vandalism Across the U.S.

Flock AI Surveillance Cameras Face Widespread Backlash and Vandalism Across the U.S.

Flock Safety, a company that deploys AI-powered automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and surveillance cameras, is experiencing significant backlash across the United States. The company has installed approximately 120,000 cameras in every U.S. state except Alaska, with 7,000 law enforcement agencies, representing 40% of the nation's police departments, utilizing their technology. While Flock claims its cameras have aided in a million criminal investigations annually, including solving car thefts and locating missing persons, recent reports reveal widespread misuse. Instances include police officers illegally searching the system to track former partners, law enforcement using the network to surveil undocumented immigrants in states where it's illegal, and tracking individuals for minor offenses like transporting legal cannabis across state lines. This has led to a dual backlash: political, with dozens of cities and counties terminating contracts, and vigilante, involving physical vandalism of the camera...

Stow Police Department Terminates Contract with Flock Safety Following Officer Misconduct Allegations

Stow Police Department Terminates Contract with Flock Safety Following Officer Misconduct Allegations

The Stow Police Department (SPD) has ended its relationship with Flock Safety, a provider of automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, after one of its officers, Jason Rogers, was accused of misusing the surveillance technology and other police databases. Officer Rogers was placed on unpaid leave on July 31 and faces termination proceedings and criminal charges. The allegations stem from a complaint received on June 18 from a Worcester County resident, who was known to Rogers, claiming improper access to personal information. An internal affairs investigation, lasting four weeks, found that Rogers allegedly ran vehicle information through Flock Safety multiple times for no legitimate law enforcement reason and accessed the state's criminal records database at least five times for non-law enforcement purposes, which is illegal under state law. Stow Police Chief Michael Sallese terminated the department's contract with Flock Safety as a direct result of Rogers's alleged conduct, with the last camera rem...

Flock Safety Implements New Policies to Address ALPR Data Privacy and Misuse Concerns

Flock Safety Implements New Policies to Address ALPR Data Privacy and Misuse Concerns

Flock Safety, a prominent provider of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology, has announced several new policies aimed at addressing growing concerns regarding data privacy and potential misuse by law enforcement agencies. These updates include a change to the default data retention period from 30 days to seven days, a new 'Evidence Mode' feature allowing investigators to retain specific ALPR data for active investigations beyond the standard retention period, and mandatory implementation of its 'Audit Assistance' feature for all law enforcement customers by the end of 2026. Additionally, case codes will be required for all law enforcement searches by year-end, and the company is encouraging customers to publish Transparency Portals. These changes come in response to increased scrutiny and documented instances of ALPR misuse, including officers tracking romantic partners or exes, as highlighted by investigations and cases in South Carolina. Local agencies in the Tri-County area of South Carolina ...

Rhode Island Governor Imposes Moratorium on Flock Camera Installation Amid Privacy Concerns

Rhode Island Governor Imposes Moratorium on Flock Camera Installation Amid Privacy Concerns

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has ordered a statewide moratorium on the installation and activation of new automated license plate reader cameras, such as those from Flock Safety. This decision comes in response to growing privacy concerns regarding nationwide mass surveillance and potential misuse of data by law enforcement agencies. The governor's order prohibits the state police from installing new cameras for two months and urges cities and towns to follow suit. During this 60-day period, a review of the technology's use will be conducted to establish uniform statewide standards for the cameras and the data they collect. While new installations are paused, existing Flock cameras operated by the Rhode Island State Police may continue to function. The Department of Public Safety, Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association, and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns will collaborate to formulate new guidelines, with the ultimate goal of advancing new legislation in January 2027 to codify more protecti...

Massachusetts Town Moves to Fire Officer and File Criminal Charges Over Misuse of Flock Surveillance Cameras

Massachusetts Town Moves to Fire Officer and File Criminal Charges Over Misuse of Flock Surveillance Cameras

The town of Stow, Massachusetts, is taking action to fire Officer Jason Rogers and is pursuing criminal charges against him for allegedly misusing Flock surveillance cameras. Rogers is accused of improperly accessing information about an acquaintance on at least five occasions and running vehicle information through Flock Safety and Criminal Justice Information Services without legitimate law enforcement reasons. The Stow Police Department initiated an internal affairs investigation after receiving a complaint on June 18, which sustained findings of conduct unbecoming of an officer, improper use of an official position, and violations of department policies. Rogers was placed on paid administrative leave and his access to department systems was revoked within three hours of the complaint. The case has been forwarded to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office. In response to these concerns, the Stow Police Department has removed multiple license plate readers from the area to review public safety co...

Flock Safety Develops New AI Tool for Police Capable of Identifying Drivers and Tracking Vehicles

Flock Safety Develops New AI Tool for Police Capable of Identifying Drivers and Tracking Vehicles

Flock Safety, a prominent vehicle surveillance company, has developed a new artificial intelligence tool for police, initially named Nightshift and now called OS Investigate, which can identify drivers and track vehicles based on movement patterns. This development contradicts the company's previous public statements that its technology could not recognize or track individuals. The tool leverages a network of cameras in over 6,000 communities to log vehicle movements. It can identify potential witnesses by analyzing how frequently their cars pass through a specific area or pinpoint a driver's 'associates' by tracking vehicles that appear together across cameras. The system integrates with police case files, 911 dispatch logs, and commercial identity records, allowing license plates to be linked to names, home addresses, and relatives. It also enables searches for individuals in a defined area based solely on physical descriptions. The software includes 69 prewritten prompts for officers, who can also creat...