Auburn’s Flock cameras; A crime-fighting tool that comes with privacy concerns
Aug 27, 2026 05:23PM ● By Riley Frankian
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Auburn Police Department’s deployment of six Flock cameras in town. These cameras
are automated license plate readers that proponents say help keep the public safe and
assist law enforcement to track crimes and criminals. Detractors insist these
surveillance cameras create a slippery slope that threatens citizens’ privacy rights.
On August 25, after the issue had gone to press, the Auburn Police Department posted
on its Facebook page that it had “severed its relationship with Flock due to a contractual
defect. All cameras in town have been deactivated at this time.”
The Yankee Xpress will follow up with the police department in its September issue.
Questions the paper will ask Chief Mills include what does a contractual defect mean;
have the cameras been deactivated as well as removed; are there plans to replace
Flock cameras with another company that provides automated license plate readers,
such as Axon Enterprise or Motorola Solutions.
Look for your September issue when it appears at various drop locations in Auburn and
Oxford. And let us know if you have questions or ideas for articles that we should be
covering. Thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
Martha Akstin
Editor
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Auburn police are adding six new cameras to the town’s roadways, giving officers another tool to investigate crimes while joining a growing national debate over privacy and surveillance.
The Auburn Police Department began installing Flock Safety automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, in July. Four cameras are currently operating, with two more awaiting installation. The cameras were purchased through grant funding and placed along selected roadways and travel corridors based on Mass. Department of Transportation (DOT) traffic data.
The technology is designed only to capture information about vehicles, not the people inside them.
When a vehicle passes a Flock camera, the system captures still images in an attempt to read its license plate. It can also identify characteristics including the vehicle’s make, model, color, and other distinguishing features.
The cameras do not continuously record video, use facial recognition, identify drivers or passengers, track cell phones, or issue automated traffic citations, according to Auburn Police Chief Richard Mills.
“Auburn is located at the intersection of several major roadways and is in close proximity to multiple interstate highways,” Mills said. “Vehicles involved in crimes committed both within Auburn and in surrounding communities frequently travel through town.”
The department says the cameras can help locate stolen vehicles, wanted suspects and missing or endangered people and assist with criminal investigations.
Flock Safety Chief Communications Officer Josh Thomas said the company’s technology is “not observing humans” and “not tracking people,” adding that its LPR devices do not use race, gender, or biometric identification.
Still, the technology has become controversial in communities across the country. Axios, a news and media website, provides an in-depth analysis of public opinion on Flock cameras. Critics argue that compiling time and location-stamped information about vehicles can amount to a form of mass surveillance, while supporters point to cases in which ALPRs have helped police solve crimes and locate missing people. Recent months have seen growing opposition to Flock cameras, with some Massachusetts communities, such as Littleton and New Bedford, removing their cameras or pausing their use.
Auburn police say safeguards are intended to address privacy concerns.
All Auburn officers and civilian dispatchers are trained and currently have access to the system. Data collected by the town’s cameras is retained for 30 days before being automatically deleted unless lawfully preserved for an investigation or another legitimate law enforcement purpose.
Every search is logged and auditable. Mills said the department also subscribes to Flock’s audit assistance program, which can flag searches that may warrant additional review.
Flock ensures that outside law enforcement agencies do not automatically have access to Auburn’s data. Requests must be reviewed by Auburn police on a case-by-case basis.
“The data is not freely shared,” Mills said. “We believe we are rather conservative in our sharing.”
Flock Chief Information Security Officer Chris Castaldo has similarly emphasized that private customers cannot access law enforcement data, while agencies maintain control over whether their information is shared.
Auburn has also stated that it will not grant access to its LPR data for civil immigration enforcement.
For residents, the debate ultimately comes down to how much surveillance is acceptable in exchange for another tool for public safety.
Mills said the department recognizes that the technology must be accompanied by restrictions and oversight.
“The value of this technology is dependent on using it responsibly and transparently,” he said.
Auburn’s Flock transparency portal, linked through the police department’s website, provides information about system usage, searches, and data access so that people can stay informed about Flocks policies and practices. The department also plans to make its own policy available through the portal.
The YankeeXpress will continue to cover the latest developments when it comes to Flock cameras and their usage in nearby municipalities.
