October 26, 2026
Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Medway Library
Learn More: deflockmedway.com
The discussion will focus on the privacy implications of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). Medway is lucky to have Gideon Epstein, the Technology for Liberty Policy Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts, explaining the details and problems with Flock cameras..
Epstein is at the forefront of the ACLU’s efforts to establish robust data privacy laws across the Commonwealth through their "Data Privacy Now" initiative. He has testified extensively before municipalities warning against the unchecked expansion of these AI-powered systems.
Unlike traditional security cameras, Flock Safety’s ALPRs log the make, model, color, and license plate of every passing vehicle, effectively tracking the everyday movements of ordinary citizens. During a recent public hearing before the Quincy City Council, Epstein cautioned lawmakers about the reality of this technology. "This technology amounts to dragnet surveillance," Epstein testified in Quincy. "It collects data on all of us... the most important thing to understand is that this is location-tracking technology, and that's why this technology implicates our constitutional rights."
The ACLU has consistently highlighted that Flock Safety incentivizes police departments to pool their local data into a nationwide network. Because Massachusetts currently lacks statewide legislative guardrails regarding how ALPR data is retained and shared, municipalities are left vulnerable. Out-of-state agencies—and in some cases, federal immigration enforcement—have historically exploited these loopholes to access the location data of vulnerable communities, reproductive care patients, and everyday residents.
Furthermore, Epstein has warned city councils that the technology was rolled out across the country "without any kind of meaningful democratic consent." He argues that until strict guardrails are enacted at the state level, the safest route for municipalities is to ban the technology outright or institute strict ordinances that give the community true oversight over police surveillance tools.
As Medway residents prepare to vote on November 9, understanding the scope and risks of this technology is vital.
Read more at the Milford Daily News.