top of page

                                     Did you know that Billerica has installed Flock Cameras?

                                                 Are you comfortable with that?

Flock Can Share Driver-Surveillance Data Even When Police Departments Opt Out, And Other
Flock Developments
The company’s default agreement with police departments grants the company license to share
people’s license plate data

  •  Sharing of video. A Flock training video that ACLU-MA obtained shows how police

departments can not only share their data on the movements of drivers who live in their
communities, but also live video as well. When choosing agencies to share data with, an
agency can check off network permissions including a department’s Video Management
System (VMS), which stores video data. Keep in mind that “video” in this context means not
just flat files but AI-enhanced intelligence; as Flock emphasizes in an ominous
marketing message, its cameras provide “More Than Recorded Video.” (I’ve recently
discussed AI-enhanced cameras here and here.)

  • Wide sharing. As in many other states, police in Massachusetts have been sharing data about

the movements of state residents with Flock’s network, allowing 7,000 agencies and
organizations across the United States to access that data. That despite a state “Shield Law”
that bars police from providing information or assistance to out-of-state police in relation to
abortion or gender-affirming care. Among Flock’s law enforcement customers nationwide, fully
75% have enrolled in the “National Lookup Tool,” the company told Oregon Senator Ron
Wyden, who has been conducting oversight inquiries into the company.

  •  Flock teams with Amazon’s Ring Cameras in sharing of home video with police

Flock and Ring Cameras (owned by Amazon) announced a partnership to facilitate
the sharing of Ring customers’ video with law enforcement. It’s not great to see one of
America’s biggest companies teaming up with a mass-surveillance company at this
authoritarian moment in our history. As Ars Technica aptly summarized it, the announcement
shows Amazon “increasingly positioning its consumer cameras as a law enforcement tool”
after previously moving away from that. In addition to reflecting the times, Amazon’s deal also
highlights the efforts of Flock and its competitor Axon (which already had a deal with Ring) to
become police departments centralized “operating system.” Note also that Ring cameras have
face recognition enabled. NOTE: Since their brilliant (creepy AF) Superbowl Ad the backlash has supposedly had Ring reconsider their partnership with Flock

​

Some concerned Billerica residents are not OK with it!

We are working with the ACLU MA and members of 50501 to look at removing or at the
very least putting guardrails on the system already in place. Our goal is to submit a
petitioners warrant at Spring Town Meeting.
We have a copy of the Billerica Police Policy on Flock, but we have yet to see the actual
agreement they signed with Flock.
We have more work to do on gathering information, and I want to thank the ACLU for
their support and guidance.
Do some research on your own about Flock Cameras and feel free to reach out anytime
if you have questions or suggestions.
https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-massachusetts-and-updates

https://deflock.me/
https://eyesoffma.com/
https://restorethe4th.com/

bottom of page