Boston police have initiated pilot programs deploying automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras supplied by Motorola Solutions and Axon, following the cessation of a brief trial last year involving similar technology from Flock Safety. The department has not disclosed specific details regarding the number of units deployed or the duration of these pilot projects.
Flock Safety’s surveillance cameras provoked significant controversy nationwide due to the ease with which officers could access collected data without court orders, alongside a shared network structure that allowed extensive tracking of individual drivers’ movements. Reports of misuse—including the monitoring of former partners—prompted many municipalities to discontinue contracts with the company, highlighting broader concerns over oversight and privacy protections.
The ALPR systems from Motorola and Axon possess comparable capabilities, raising similar apprehensions among privacy advocates. Within Boston, the introduction of these new pilot programs sparked debate about transparency and procedural adherence. City Council members voiced unease over the lack of prior consultation with their body, citing a 2022 ordinance designed to regulate surveillance technologies and require council approval before deployment.
City officials, however, countered that the license plate reader programs had received council authorization the previous year. The office of Mayor Michelle Wu emphasized this point amid the discussion, maintaining that the pilots comply with existing legislative frameworks governing surveillance tools.
Requests for comment from Motorola Solutions and Axon were not returned. Meanwhile, the ongoing dialogue in Boston reflects a complex balance between leveraging technology for public safety and addressing privacy concerns in line with community expectations and legal mandates.