Request For Public Review Before Contracts Are Entered
Dear Mayor Sisitsky and Chief Baker:
A majority of the members of the Framingham Democrats has voted to take the following position on the City’s use of Flock cameras. We are concerned that future technologies may pose even more significant risks and so fully exploring the use of Flock technology at this time is imperative.
The Framingham Democratic Committee requests that before renewing any contract with Flock, the Mayor and Police Chief complete a full public review, Including:
1.Release complete documentation on Flock’s use, including access logs, audit procedures, data-sharing practices, retention policies, misuse incidents, and evidence of public safety outcomes.
2.Conduct a formal public assessment of whether Flock’s claimed benefits outweigh its risks to privacy, civil liberties, and public trust.
3.The City prohibit data-sharing with outside agencies — particularly those engaged in civil immigration enforcement.
If these safeguards cannot be guaranteed, we the Framingham Democratic Committee would ask that the City decline to renew the contract and remove the Flock cameras.
In addition we ask that the City commit to only implement future surveillance tools with meaningful public accountability, transparency, and community consent. This will not be the last AI-enabled surveillance technology that we will have to evaluate.
If you need any clarification please reach out to our Chair, Doug Lawrence, contact details below.
Framingham Democratic Committee