NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH – Town officials say they’ve heard the concerns raised by residents regarding the use of Flock cameras in the community, and are taking several steps in response.
Particular questions center on privacy, data retention, transparency, and oversight, said Town Manager Michael Borg.
Borg said he held a discussion on Sept. 1 with several members of the Town Council, and they agreed to take immediate steps while the council prepares to discuss the program at its Sept. 14 meeting.
Effective immediately, the town will:
- Pause any new installation of Flock cameras;
- Reduce the data retention period from 30 days to seven days;
- Establish a public transparency portal to provide greater information about how frequently the system is accessed and used;
- Engage an independent third party to establish an audit program, providing an additional layer of review beyond the oversight measures already in place.
The town recognizes the importance of protecting residents’ privacy while also ensuring that the Police Department has appropriate tools to protect public safety, states the manager. “We believe both considerations deserve careful and thoughtful review.”
Council President Justin Pare has raised the possibility that the council may debate a broader pause of the program in the future, including the while related legislation is considered at the state level and the council evaluates whether additional local action, potentially a formal request to the town manager, may be appropriate, it adds.
“No decision has been made at this time, and the town remains open to discussion as we continue working collaboratively with the Town Council, Police Department, and community to evaluate the program and determine the appropriate path forward,” said Borg. “We appreciate the residents who have raised questions and concerns and remain committed to a transparent and thoughtful public process as this discussion continues.”
North Attleborough’s discussions are part of a flood of Flock-related news stories lately. On Wednesday, a judge ruled that Massachusetts State Police must disclose records related to use of Flock cameras. , and also Wednesday, police in neighboring Cumberland confirmed that two of the license plate-reading cameras have been stolen.
Attleboro ended its relationship with Flock Safety in March, citing cost concerns. According to an ACLU of Massachusetts article on Wednesday, that city is one of 25 communities in the state that have now ended use of the cameras.
“Since October 2025, the ACLU of Massachusetts has been raising awareness about police use of Flock Safety’s automatic license plate reader technology,” states that story. “License plate readers (LPRs) enable police and private companies to track anybody who drives past an LPR camera, regardless of whether the driver is suspected of wrongdoing.”
“…Flock’s dragnet surveillance technology and nationwide data sharing model put our civil liberties and privacy at risk. And Massachusetts residents across the state are fighting back.”
