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More Massachusetts towns drop Flock license plate cameras

More Massachusetts towns drop Flock license plate cameras

Rule Changes Boston, MA local

Four more communities cut ties or pause use of the automated license plate readers

September 1st, 2026: Four more towns cut ties or pause Flock

Overview

Updated Sep 4

Four 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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Key Indicators

25+
Massachusetts municipalities that have rejected Flock
Per ACLU of Massachusetts, over 25 communities have stopped using or paused the ALPR technology.
4
Towns that cut ties or paused in this wave
Abington, Ayer, Groton, and Southbridge announced decisions on the same day.
1
Officer resigned over alleged Flock misuse
A Stow police officer resigned after allegedly using Flock to track someone he knew.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

October 2025 September 2026

8 events Latest: September 1st, 2026 · 1 week ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Four more towns cut ties or pause Flock

    Latest Policy Change

    Abington, Ayer, Groton terminate Flock contracts; Southbridge suspends use.

  2. Easton announces end of Flock contract

    Policy Change

    Easton announces it will end Flock contract at end of year.

  3. Five towns discontinue Flock use

    Policy Change

    East Bridgewater, Grafton, Auburn, Bellingham, and Douglas discontinue Flock use.

  4. Stow cuts ties with Flock

    Policy Change

    Stow cuts ties with Flock after officer allegedly misused system to track acquaintance.

  5. Hopkinton cancels Flock contract

    Policy Change

    Hopkinton cancels Flock contract, citing state procurement law violation.

  6. Littleton orders cameras removed

    Policy Change

    Littleton orders Flock cameras removed after company reactivated them without town knowledge.

  7. New Bedford suspends Flock use

    Policy Change

    New Bedford suspends Flock use after officer allegedly stalked ex-girlfriend using the system.

  8. ACLU launches anti-Flock campaign

    Advocacy

    ACLU of Massachusetts begins raising awareness about Flock's ALPR technology and organizing communities to reject it.

Scenarios

1

Massachusetts enacts statewide ALPR privacy law

Possible Resolves by Jul 31, 2027

Discussed by: ACLU of Massachusetts, Southbridge Police Department

The Southbridge police statement explicitly called for 'appropriate statewide guardrails.' If the backlash continues, the state legislature could pass a bill requiring warrants for ALPR data access, limiting data retention, and creating oversight requirements.

2

Flock loses nearly all Massachusetts contracts

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: ACLU of Massachusetts, Boston.com

If the current pace continues, Flock could be left with only a handful of contracts in Massachusetts. The ACLU is actively organizing communities to reject the technology, and each new defection makes it easier for others to follow.

3

Flock adapts and retains Massachusetts presence

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Flock Safety

Flock could introduce new privacy safeguards, change its data-sharing model, and win back trust. The company has not publicly responded to the Massachusetts backlash, but could take steps to address concerns.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

May 2019

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.

Then

Other cities including Boston, Oakland, and Somerville followed with similar bans.

Now

The ordinance set a precedent for local control over surveillance technology.

Why this matters now

Shows how a single city's rejection can spark a broader movement against surveillance tech, similar to how Massachusetts towns are now rejecting Flock.

February 2024

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.

Then

The decision followed other cities ending ShotSpotter contracts. The company's stock dropped significantly.

Now

Demonstrated that sustained criticism can lead to contract cancellations for surveillance technology.

Why this matters now

Demonstrates how municipal contract decisions can cascade when a surveillance technology faces sustained criticism.

2000s-2010s

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.

Then

The number of red-light camera programs dropped from over 500 to around 300.

Now

Some states passed laws restricting their use.

Why this matters now

Shows how privacy and cost concerns can lead to the removal of surveillance technology that was once widely adopted.

Sources

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