flock safety2 articles
Boston Ditches Flock After Cameras Shared Data With Police Nationwide Behind Its Back
Boston terminated its contract with Flock Safety after the company's license plate reader cameras shared data with law enforcement agencies nationwide within days of the pilot launching, violating a contract provision that restricted access exclusively to Boston Police Department personnel. Mayor Michelle Wu confirmed the city has abandoned Flock, citing the need for strict access controls and privacy protections. Boston continues to pursue license plate reader technology through trials with other vendors, Motorola and Axon, provided appropriate safeguards are in place.
Anti-Flock Vandal Forgot About All The Other Cameras Watching Him
Marcus Bee, a 40-year-old Californian, was arrested and jailed after allegedly destroying three Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in Monterey County, causing thousands of dollars in damage — only to be caught on other nearby surveillance cameras he failed to disable. The arrest is part of a broader trend of Americans targeting Flock cameras across the country, driven by concerns over privacy, potential immigration enforcement use, and alleged constitutional violations. While law enforcement defends the cameras as vital investigative tools, critics including the ACLU raise concerns about mass data collection, and there have been documented cases of officers misusing the technology to stalk individuals.