Framingham must reclaim its privacy, say no to Flock
Framingham must reclaim its privacy, say no to Flock
Publish Date: 2026-06-13 04:45:00
Source Domain: www.metrowestdailynews.com
June 13, 2026, 4:45 a.m. ET
Framingham is under surveillance.
Nearly 20 AI-powered license plate reader cameras manufactured by Flock Safety Inc. are deployed throughout our city, capturing and storing data on nearly every resident and visitor. This isn’t a subtle tool — it’s a dragnet that records where we go, when we go there and how often.
The choice facing our city is straightforward: Renew this contract by June 30, or reclaim our privacy and autonomy.
The problem with Flock
When Framingham first contracted with Flock in 2022, the promises were simple: better policing, enhanced public safety, crime prevention. But the reality has proven far more troubling.
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Flock’s terms have evolved dramatically. The company now claims permanent, perpetual rights to use captured data however it wants. Protections against unauthorized data sales have been stripped away. Most damning of all: Federal immigration agents have accessed Flock data without explicit authorization from other local police departments —which would directly undermine Framingham’s welcoming policies.
For a city that has explicitly committed to protecting immigrant residents, this is a fundamental betrayal. When ICE can track teenagers through license plate readers and use that data for deportation, we are no longer a welcoming city. We become an unwitting partner in federal enforcement.
Why trust Isn’t enough
During an April 27 public meeting about Flock, residents made clear that trust is not a safeguard. Yet the city repeatedly asked residents to trust Flock, trust the police, trust the system — with few meaningful protections in return.
This is backward. Democratic governance demands transparency and accountability, not blind faith. Residents raised serious, consistent concerns:
- Flock captures data on ordinary people, regardless of suspicion or wrongdoing;
- The city has not demonstrated this surveillance is necessary or…
