MA-06 Candidates Answer our ALPR Questions
Do you have an opinion on the impacts of AI-powered ALPR technology on our communities, both here in Massachusetts and nationwide?
Do you think ALPR technology and/or similar AI-powered surveillance should be regulated? Why or why not? If yes, how should it be regulated?
We sent the above questions to all the Democratic primary candidates for Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District seat to find out their opinions about AI-powered Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology. We reached out to Beth Andres-Beck, John Beccia, Rick Jakious, Dan Koh, Mariah Lancaster, Tram Nguyen, and Jamie Zahlaway Belsito. (After our outreach, a Republican candidate, John Field, filed papers to enter the race, but he has not yet made any publically-available announcement.) We heard back from two candidates. Here’s what they had to say:
State Representative Tram Nguyen, Candidate for the Massachusetts 6th Congressional District
AI powered license plate reader technology raises real privacy concerns, and what we are seeing in Massachusetts should be a warning for the rest of the country. These systems can track where people drive, when they travel, and how often, even if they have done nothing wrong. In many cases, this information is collected without a warrant or clear rules. As a lawyer, I am concerned that this kind of tracking goes against our basic rights.
In Massachusetts, police can use national databases run by private companies like Flock and Vigilant. This means a car registered here can be tracked across state lines. That weakens the promise of our Shield Law, which I voted for to protect people seeking abortion care and gender affirming care. Without strong limits, this technology can be used to follow vulnerable people, including immigrants, activists, and others simply living their lives.
There are times when this technology can help, like finding missing children or older adults through Amber and Silver Alerts. But helpful tools still need clear rules. We need limits on when data can be collected, how long it is kept, and who can see it. In Congress, I would push for strong national privacy laws so new technology keeps people safe without taking away their freedom or rights.
Dr. Mariah Lancaster, Candidate for the Massachusetts 6th Congressional District
ALPR is not making communities safer, but is putting Massachusetts residents, and Americans nationwide, in danger. Data is neither collected nor stored securely, and is already showing up in the hands of hackers and adversaries, and is being shared across state lines in violation of Massachusetts state law. This is an immense risk for all Americans with no evidence of benefit to our communities.
ALPR use constitutes a level of surveillance that directly violates our fourth amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure. The use of License Plate Recognition technologies should be regulated and restricted to ensure data is only collected within a local municipality, stored for a limited period of time, and only eligible to be shared further in the case of a specific case warrant valid under Massachusetts state law. Logs must be diligently kept of who has accessed ALPR data at any given time and with whom it has been shared. Any data collected should also be subject to strict data privacy regulations, including requiring multi-factor authentication for access.
Remember—our representatives work for us. We must continue to let them know what we expect from them (and what we will not tolerate). While November’s mid-term elections will be an important chance to make our voices heard, we don’t have to wait until the fall to get engaged with our candidates. Reach out to your representatives and candidates for office regularly. Calling your representatives (or visiting them in-person) works! Take the actions we presented for January 20th and make them habits in your daily life.
Additionally, if you live in the 6th District, the Democratic Town Committees of Bedford, Billerica, and Burlington are co-sponsoring a free public “Forum for the CD6 Congressional Candidates” on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Find out what events are planned for your district and make a plan to attend with a friend.
For more information about ALPRs and Flock Safety, check our Flock Off! Campaign space and our recent blog post.
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