Four more communities cut ties or pause use of the automated license plate readers
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Overview
Updated 1 hour agoFour more Massachusetts towns cut ties with Flock Safety on the same day, bringing the total to over two dozen communities that have rejected the company's automated license plate readers. Abington, Ayer, and Groton terminated their contracts, while Southbridge suspended use of the cameras.
The recent decisions follow allegations that police officers misused Flock to track people for personal reasons, including a Stow officer who resigned after allegedly using the system to follow someone he knew. The backlash has turned Massachusetts into a test case for whether local communities can push back against private surveillance networks.
Why it matters
If the trend holds, Massachusetts could become the first state where most municipalities reject ALPR surveillance, pushing the legislature toward statewide privacy rules.
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People Involved
Organizations Involved
Atlanta-based company that sells automated license plate reader cameras and AI-powered surveillance tools to police departments.
Civil liberties advocacy group that has been organizing against Flock since October 2025.
Timeline
October 2025 September 2026
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Four more towns cut ties or pause Flock
Latest Policy ChangeAbington, Ayer, Groton terminate Flock contracts; Southbridge suspends use.
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Easton announces end of Flock contract
Policy ChangeEaston announces it will end Flock contract at end of year.
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Five towns discontinue Flock use
Policy ChangeEast Bridgewater, Grafton, Auburn, Bellingham, and Douglas discontinue Flock use.
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Stow cuts ties with Flock
Policy ChangeStow cuts ties with Flock after officer allegedly misused system to track acquaintance.
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Hopkinton cancels Flock contract
Policy ChangeHopkinton cancels Flock contract, citing state procurement law violation.
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Littleton orders cameras removed
Policy ChangeLittleton orders Flock cameras removed after company reactivated them without town knowledge.
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New Bedford suspends Flock use
Policy ChangeNew Bedford suspends Flock use after officer allegedly stalked ex-girlfriend using the system.
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ACLU launches anti-Flock campaign
AdvocacyACLU of Massachusetts begins raising awareness about Flock's ALPR technology and organizing communities to reject it.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
San Francisco bans facial recognition (2019)
San Francisco became the first US city to ban facial recognition technology by city agencies, including police. The Board of Supervisors voted 8-1 to pass the ordinance, which also required city agencies to get approval for any surveillance technology.
Other cities including Boston, Oakland, and Somerville followed with similar bans.
The ordinance set a precedent for local control over surveillance technology.
Shows how a single city's rejection can spark a broader movement against surveillance tech, similar to how Massachusetts towns are now rejecting Flock.
ShotSpotter in Chicago (2024)
Chicago declined to renew its ShotSpotter gunshot detection contract after years of criticism that the technology was inaccurate and led to over-policing. Mayor Brandon Johnson made the decision despite opposition from police.
The decision followed other cities ending ShotSpotter contracts. The company's stock dropped significantly.
Demonstrated that sustained criticism can lead to contract cancellations for surveillance technology.
Demonstrates how municipal contract decisions can cascade when a surveillance technology faces sustained criticism.
Red-light camera backlash (2000s-2010s)
Many US cities removed red-light cameras after courts ruled them unconstitutional, public backlash, or cost concerns. Houston voted to end its program in 2011, and the number of programs declined significantly nationwide.
The number of red-light camera programs dropped from over 500 to around 300.
Some states passed laws restricting their use.
Shows how privacy and cost concerns can lead to the removal of surveillance technology that was once widely adopted.
