On Tuesday, there was a heated debate in Beverly, Massachusetts over the use of AI-powered flock surveillance cameras.
Police in Beverly and other areas use the system to capture license plates on the city’s streets. They have contributed to some recent high-profile research, but some have raised privacy concerns.
A meeting was held at City Hall to discuss the cameras.
The city said it uses four automated solar-powered cameras to read license plates. They cost between $150 and $3,000, and police say they have proven useful in tracking stolen vehicles and solving crimes.
Jeff Three San Jose, Calif., drivers have filed a class action lawsuit against the city and police department over the deployment of nearly 500 cameras operated by Flock Safety, a controversial surveillance technology company that uses AI and specialized cameras to catalog vehicle movements.
“We do not support the infrastructure of flock cameras that exist in our communities,” one man said at the rally, drawing applause.
Beverly Police Chief John LeLasure also took to the stage to defend its use.
“They are an invaluable asset to the city in saving lives and prosecuting cases,” he said.
Crowd cameras were used by Beverly police as they investigated a violent home invasion at a residence on Payne Street last month.
In December, cameras were used to help find the perpetrator of the Brown University shooting.
A major breakthrough in Brown’s investigation came from information that identified the vehicle the suspect was driving. Flock’s AI-powered safety cameras helped locate that vehicle.
At Tuesday’s meeting, opponents raised concerns about the potential for the technology to be used to identify people by gender or race.
“It appears these flock cameras may have created a loophole that allowed out-of-state agencies to obtain personal information about people receiving medical care at the Cummings Center,” the man said.
Police say Beverly only uses a Flock license plate reader camera. They added that the system does not use live video and access will only be granted to appropriately qualified active duty officers and civilian dispatchers.
Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill said he planned to meet with Mr. Flock to address residents’ concerns.
