Flock & ALPR Cameras in Massachusetts
At least 1,205 automated license plate readers have been reported across Massachusetts — the 27th most-surveilled state in the country by camera count.
Updated Oct 8, 2026 · Live data
1,205 automated license plate readers have been reported in Massachusetts as of October 8, 2026, ranking it #27 of 52 states and territories. They are documented in 217 cities and towns across 13 counties. 82 percent are Flock Safety cameras.
105 cameras were added to the Massachusetts map in the last 30 days and 45 were removed. The most recent camera was reported on September 11, 2026. Quincy (44) has the most, followed by Methuen (41) and Springfield (36).
100 operators are named in the records, including Lowell Police, Springfield Police, Methuen Police. Source: community-mapped camera data (OpenStreetMap, ODbL) with DeFlock The USA’s permanent history.
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Every one of those 1,205 cameras photographs the plate of each car that passes it — logging where Massachusetts drivers go, when, and how often, whether or not anyone is suspected of a crime. Here’s what that means, and what you can do about it.
On the agenda: Salem City Council Regular Meeting — surveillance camera (Oct 8)
Thursday, October 8 — today · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗
On the agenda: Malden meeting — Flock Safety (Oct 13)
Tuesday, October 13 — in 5 days · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗
Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.
- Oct 8 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 7 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Axon Enterprise camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Axon Enterprise camera newly reported
Newly reported by volunteers — cameras may have been up long before someone mapped them.
📷 9 new license plate readers just reported around Chicopee, MA. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Chicopee
📷 13 new license plate readers just reported around Methuen, MA. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Methuen
What these cameras actually do
Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) like those sold by Flock Safety aren’t normal traffic cameras. Each one reads every passing plate, stamps it with a time and location, and stores it in a searchable database — often shared across agencies. Across Massachusetts, that’s 1,205 points quietly building a record of residents’ movements. See how the tech works and where your data goes.
How Massachusetts compares
Massachusetts ranks #27 of 52 states and territories by reported ALPR cameras — part of a fast-growing national footprint. Nationwide, volunteers have mapped over 143,000 cameras and counting. Nearby by camera count: Arkansas (1,081), Minnesota (1,652), Mississippi (1,147), Oklahoma (1,513).
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On camera in Massachusetts — each opens right here on DeFlock:
The conversation about Massachusetts:
WBUR [Unofficial]@[email protected]MastodonMass. public safety chief says Flock cameras may need 'PR makeover' https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/10/08/massachusetts-safety-chief-flock-cameras-pr-makeover2 hours ago★ Our signal
DeFlock The USA@deflocktheusaBluesky📷 9 new license plate readers just reported around Chicopee, MA. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Chicopee2 days ago
FlockWatch@flockwatch.bsky.socialBluesky📅 On the agenda: Holyoke, Massachusetts. The City Council's Tue Oct 6, 6:30 PM meeting (item 48) includes the item “The Committee on Public Safety to whom was referred an order that the City Council review the history,…6 days ago
JL Johnson@[email protected]MastodonFlock cameras with no obvious owners. Lovely. #Flock #DeFlock #alpr1 week ago
DrDucko 🦆@drducko.myatproto.socialBlueskyAnother Flock bites the dust. Massachusetts www.wcvb.com/article/norw...1 week ago
Andrew Quemere@andrewqmr.bsky.socialBluesky“In a closely divided vote, the [Lowell] City Council approved a motion to indefinitely suspend the city’s use of the Flock Safety system, while the city completes a thorough policy review of its usage, the company’s use of…2 weeks agoAll surveillance news → · All video & feeds →
What you can do in Massachusetts
You don’t have to accept it — and you don’t have to be anti-safety to demand accountability. File a public records request to learn your town’s retention and data-sharing policy, speak up at a city-council meeting, and see the full playbook on our Take Action page.
Not sure what one looks like? See photographs of installed cameras before you go looking.
No local chapter in Massachusetts yet — be the first, and we’ll list you.
Flock & ALPR cameras by city in Massachusetts
We track 217 Massachusetts cities and towns with reported cameras — each with its own local report:
Flock & ALPR cameras by county in Massachusetts
13 Massachusetts counties have at least one reported camera. Tap any county for its full local report.
Counts come from the open-source DeFlock project’s volunteer reports and update as new cameras are mapped. A county not listed has no reported cameras yet — not necessarily none. Spot one? Report it.