Matters ▸ Attachment
Impact Report GrayKey — File 23-1354
1
Template updated 9/30/2020
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IMPACT REPORT
Department or Division:
Somerville Police Department (SPD)
Compliance Officer (name and
position):
Lt. Sean Sheehan
Submitted by:
Lt. Sean Sheehan
Date:
9/11/2023
Surveillance Technology:
GrayKey
X
Please identify the purpose(s) of the proposed surveillance technology.
Select ALL that apply by entering “X” in the left column.
X
Identifying and preventing threats to persons and property and preventing injury to persons or
significant damage to property
X
Identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting criminal offenders
X
Gathering evidence of violations of any law in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings
X
Providing information to emergency personnel
Documenting and improving performance of City employees
Executing financial transactions between the City and any individual engaged in a financial
transaction with the City
Preventing waste, fraud, and abuse of City resources
Maintaining the safety and security of City employees, students, customers, and City-owned or
controlled buildings and property
Enforcing obligations to the City
Operating vehicles for City business
Analyzing and managing service delivery
Communicating among City employees, with citizens, or with third parties
Surveying and gathering feedback from constituents
Other (Describe):
If the surveillance technology is used for a purpose not listed above, does the purpose comply
with the surveillance use policy? ___ Yes ___ No
2
Template updated 9/30/2020
Complete ALL of the following items related to the proposed surveillance technology. Be as specific as possible.
If an item is not applicable, enter “N/A.” Do NOT leave fields blank.
1. Information describing the surveillance technology and how it works:
The GrayKey Digital Forensics Analysis Tool (DFAT) is used to legally access digital evidence located on electronic
devices which include, but are not limited to, Computers, Mobile Phones, Digital Cameras, Tablets and any device
used to communicate, store data and facilitate the commission of crimes. A valid search warrant issued by the
appropriate jurisdictional Massachusetts Court, or a valid consent to search is required in order to legally extract
the evidence from the device. Through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Boston Office the SPD has acquired
a License for the GrayKey Digital Forensics Analysis Tool and a Laptop computer which is used to analyze the data
extracted from these devices.
a. Authorized use – the uses that are authorized, the rules and processes required before that use, and the
uses that are prohibited (10.64.b.2):
A valid search warrant, issued by the appropriate jurisdictional Massachusetts Court, or a valid consent to search
is required in order to legally extract the evidence from the device.
Similar to the search of a car or a home, search of a phone is subject to limitations laid out in case law, and the
scope and terms of the warrant. The technology cannot be used to collect personal information unrelated to the
investigation. The information gathered must be relevant to the investigation as indicated in the search warrant.
b. Training – the training, if any, required for any individual authorized to use the surveillance technology or
to access information collected by the surveillance technology, including whether there are training
materials (10.64.b.9):
One Detective and one Detective Supervisor will be trained on the use of the GrayKey DFAT.
2. Information on the proposed purpose(s) for the surveillance technology (10.64.b.1):
The technology would only be used in cases in which a search warrant has been obtained in conjunction with the
investigation allowing access to the device in question or with the owner’s consent. Devices that contain digital
evidence must be properly collected, handled and processed. The volatile nature of the data on these devices
requires proper seizure to preserve the integrity of the data and ensure their evidentiary value in legal proceedings.
Devices must be processed properly, whether the data these devices contain are incriminating or exculpatory.
3. Information describing the kind of surveillance the surveillance technology is going to conduct and what
surveillance data is going to be gathered (10.64.b.3):
This technology opens “locked” devices by overriding passcodes. The types of surveillance data obtained from
these devices include photos, videos, text conversations, call logs and any data normally stored on an electronic
device.
3
Template updated 9/30/2020
a. Data access – the individuals who can access or use the collected surveillance data, and the rules and
processes required before access or use of the information (10.64.b.4):
Only the Investigator and the Investigator’s supervisor would have access to the data recovered.
b. Data protection – the safeguards that protect information from unauthorized access, including, but not
limited to, encryption, access-control, and access-oversight mechanisms; (10.64.b.5)
The device is used by two detectives under the direction of their supervisor, who are both certified by GrayKey.
Information retrieved is stored on one specific computer, under the direct control of the Digital Forensics Detective.
c. Data retention – the time period, if any, for which information collected by the surveillance technology
will be routinely retained, the reason that retention period is appropriate to further the purpose(s), the
process by which the information is regularly deleted after that period has elapsed, and the conditions
that must be met to retain information beyond that period (10.64.b.6):
Any data or evidence obtained from using this technology would be retained for the duration of the relevant
investigation and pending legal proceedings.
d. Public access – if and how collected surveillance data can be accessed by members of the public,
including criminal defendants (10.64.b.7):
Data collected is not available to members of the public. Defendants can request the data through the criminal
discovery process.
e. Third-party data-sharing – if and how other city or non-city entities can access or use the surveillance
data, including any required justification and legal standard necessary to do so, and any obligation(s)
imposed on the recipient of the surveillance data (10.64.b.8):
Data may be shared with the District Attorney’s Office and/or other Law Enforcement Agencies if the investigation
is multi-jurisdictional.
4. The location(s) it may be deployed and when:
The technology will only be deployed when a valid search warrant is issued by the courts or if valid signed consent
is presented. Detectives are required to seek their supervisor’s approval prior to using the technology.
5. A description of the privacy and anonymity rights affected and a mitigation plan describing how the
department’s use of the equipment will be regulated to protect privacy, anonymity, and limit the risk of
potential abuse:
The device would be used by a single trained member of the department, under the authorization of a supervisor,
and only with consent or a search warrant.
6. The potential impact(s) on privacy in the city; the potential impact on the civil rights and liberties of any
4
Template updated 9/30/2020
individuals, communities or groups, including, but not limited to, communities of color or other marginalized
communities in the city, and a description of whether there is a plan to address the impact(s):
This device is used specifically in conjunction with a criminal investigation. Authority to use this technology would
be granted by a valid search warrant or consent, and could not be used indiscriminately.
7. An estimate of the fiscal costs for the surveillance technology, including initial purchase, personnel and other
ongoing costs, and any current or potential sources of funding:
There is no cost for the device as all License costs are paid for by UASI Boston.
8. An explanation of how the surveillance use policy will apply to this surveillance technology and, if it is not
applicable, a technology-specific surveillance use policy:
The City’s Surveillance Use Policy will apply.
a. Oversight – the mechanisms to ensure that the surveillance use policy is followed, including, but not
limited to, identifying personnel assigned to ensure compliance with the policy, internal record keeping
of the use of the technology or access to information collected by the surveillance technology, technical
measures to monitor for misuse, any independent person or entity with oversight authority, and the
sanctions for violations of the policy (10.64.b.10):
There are two Detectives, one a supervisor, trained and authorized to use the technology. Any misuse of this
device would lead to department discipline up to and including termination.