Stoughton Joins Growing List Of MA Communities Canceling Flock Contracts

STOUGHTON, MA — Stoughton police have ended the department's use of automated license plate reader cameras following community concerns about the technology.

The Stoughton Police Department canceled its contract with Flock Safety effective Sept. 4 after reviewing the system's investigative value, policy safeguards and concerns raised by residents. The Select Board publicly announced the cancellation on Tuesday.

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Police said all department access to Flock software has been revoked and data-sharing arrangements with outside agencies have been terminated. The company must remove all equipment installed under the contract by Oct. 1.

The department also asked Stoughton's Department of Public Works to cover the cameras until the equipment can be removed.

Police said the system gave investigators a valuable tool but determined that community concerns and broader questions about the program outweighed its benefits. Officials also considered the effects of ending the contract because a federal grant funded the program's first year.

"Public trust and transparency must remain paramount in how we deploy technology in service of this community," Acting Police Chief James E. O'Connor said. "After carefully considering the concerns raised by our residents, as well as the operational and policy considerations surrounding the program, we determined that cancellation was the appropriate course of action at this time."

More MA Communities Ending Flock Agreements

Stoughton joins a growing list of Massachusetts communities that have ended or suspended Flock agreements amid concerns about privacy, data storage and access to information collected by the cameras.

Salem, Littleton, Douglas, Grafton, East Bridgewater, Stow and New Bedford had terminated or suspended agreements as of late August. Sharon also recently declined to renew its contract after less than a year.

Stoughton police said the department will continue reviewing emerging technology and law enforcement practices. Officials said the Select Board and residents will be notified if the department considers alternatives in the future.

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