Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Framingham Police Department has decided to not renew its contract with Flock Safety.
The surveillance company uses cameras to read license plates, which in theory should allow for easier tracking of cars involved in criminal activity.
Some community members, however, have raised concerns, saying it could be a form of general mass surveillance, and that data collected could be misused.
Some residents like Alex fully understand why many would feel uncertain about Flock.
“[It's] probably a problem across general cyber security itself, so it is a concern in that sense,” he said.
But Alice, another resident, said we "have to be fair about it."
“The problem is there are bad people and they do put as bad taste in your mouth where sometimes it’s hard to trust,” she said. “As long as they’re not overstepping their bounds, if they’re using it the way it’s supposed to, there’s no reason not to use it.”
Stephanie thinks getting rid of the system is a bad idea in its entirety.
“If someone ran over somebody, if somebody went into someone’s car, how are you going to find them? You need it,” she said.
Framingham is one of multiple municipalities, including Cambridge and Natick, that have cut ties with Flock.
District 8 City Councilor John Stefanini says that they will only renew their contract with Flock if they follow guidelines such as strict regulations on data sharing, data deletion mandates, transparency regarding auditing, to same some.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.