A vital community Facebook group, created in 2015 to assist and alert the public during emergencies, has been hacked, cutting off more than 35,000 members from essential safety updates.
The Emergency Community Group (Boston), a trusted platform used by residents, businesses, and visitors alike, was designed to warn the public of any potential risks to life, people, property, or local services. It provided timely updates on emergency service incidents, utility disruptions, flooding, and sudden road closures, playing a crucial role in Boston’s day-to-day safety communications for nearly a decade.
Earlier this week, the group was seized by hackers who removed all administrators and archived the group, rendering it inaccessible and silencing a key voice in the town’s emergency response network.
Former page administrators confirmed they are actively working with Facebook in a bid to recover the group and regain access. “This group has been part of the town’s safety backbone since 2015. To have it stripped away is not just upsetting — it puts real-time communication at risk when people need it most,” one admin shared.
The breach has left a significant information gap at a time when fast and reliable updates are often critical. It’s currently unclear how the hackers gained access or if any member data has been compromised.
Members are urged to remain vigilant online, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and report any suspicious activity to Facebook.
A screenshot from Facebook shows the group, which has over 36,000 members was archived on 21st April 2025.
