How a Controversial Camera System Helped Track Down a Shooter

A camera system called Flock played a big role in finding a shooter. It snapped pictures of a car linked to the person who shot an MIT professor. The car was a rented Nissan Sentra with a Florida license plate. Authorities used Flock's system to track the car's movements across different states. But Flock's system isn't just helpful; it's also controversial. Some cities, like Cambridge, have cut ties with Flock because of concerns about privacy and how the data is used. There are worries that federal immigration agencies might be using Flock's data for their own purposes. Flock's system allows police departments to share data with each other. This can be useful for tracking down criminals, but it also raises questions about surveillance and privacy. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has pointed out that the system can be used for widespread surveillance without proper oversight.Flock says they welcome feedback and are working to improve their system. They are adding more controls to how searches are done. But critics argue that more needs to be done to protect people's privacy. Some communities are pushing back against Flock. Residents in cities like Waltham and Watertown are asking their local governments for more information about how Flock's cameras are used. They want to make sure that the technology isn't being misused. Cambridge, for example, decided not to renew its contract with Flock. Even though the system helped in the manhunt for the Brown shooter, the city wasn't comfortable with the balance between public safety and privacy that Flock offered.