Flock cameras come under scrutiny

Several councilors called on the City Council to review the deployment of Flock Safety security camera equipment in Waltham and consider ordinances to regulate the use of equipment and collected data and images. 

Speaking at the City Council’s regular meeting Monday night, the councilors said they and their constituents had questions about how long collected data is retained, whether it is being monetized, who could use it and for what purposes. 

Ward 6 Councilor Sean T. Councilor Durkee noted that councilors in the City of Cambridge raised similar concerns and recently paused the installment of cameras there amid concerns over data privacy. 

“[If other agencies and private entities] have access to their data without their knowledge, if that’s happening, I do not support this in any way, shape or form. We have to have control of the data,” Durkee said.

Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan proposed having the Waltham police chief attend the council’s next meeting to discuss the implementation of the cameras. 

Councilors also asked that copies of any contracts and agreements between Flock Safety and Waltham be sent to them for review before their next meeting. They also asked for a map of all planned locations for Flock cameras in Waltham, before referring the matter to its Committee of the Whole.