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Hackers Stole a Flock Camera. Here’s What They Found Inside
Boston ended its contract with Flock Safety after discovering the company enabled a nationwide data-sharing feature that violated contractual terms; the city will not use the vendor's services going forward.
The Boston Police Department conducted a five-month trial of the Flock Safety ALPR System from April 1, 2025, to September 4, 2025, deploying approximately 45 automated license plate reader cameras.
Within three days of the pilot, BPD discovered a nationwide data-sharing function was "enabled by the vendor in error," allowing outside agencies to access license plate information in violation of the contract.
Privacy concerns have triggered backlash across Massachusetts, where more than 20 communities have terminated or suspended their Flock Safety contracts, as detailed in Boston's 2025 Annual Surveillance Report.
Cambridge ended its Flock contract citing a "breach of trust," while Boston has initiated a separate short-term trial of Motorola ALPR technology subject to strict data-sharing prohibitions.