Flock Safety produces surveillance cameras, drones, and license-plate-reading technology used by police. Such worries are not merely theoretical.
Langley's latest Fox News spot was merely the most recent conversation he has given as the company faces growing public outcry around concerns that its technology could be misused.
Politicians from both parties are now directing criticism at Flock. Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, for instance, attacked rival Mike Rogers for backing "this mass proliferation of Flock cameras, any and everywhere, watching your every move to collect information without you even noticing." And Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders posted, "STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE. STOP FLOCK."
A trio of GOP House members proposed legislation to bar the federal government from buying automated monitoring tools that employ facial recognition, biometric identifiers, or plate scanning, "including a Flock Safety camera."
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Flock Safety's devices are typically mounted on poles and capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, feeding into a network that police can search. The company has argued that its technology helps solve crimes, but critics worry about the potential for abuse, especially given the documented incidents of misuse by officers.
CEO Garrett Langley says the backlash is fair, but he wants people to see the bigger picture. "I don't think that Flock created police abuse. I think we're the first company to ever shine a light on it and build the tools to find it," he told CBS News. He also apologized to one alleged victim, saying, "I apologize. It kills me that she went through that."
"When people talk about just one of these, privacy or safety, they're prioritizing the wrong thing, and what we have to prioritize as a country is compromise," he said. "How do we have our safety, and how do we balance privacy?"
Flock has made changes in response to the criticism. Now, a case code must be input prior to retrieving information.
But both changes can be overridden. Officers can extend data storage by activating a feature known as Evidence Mode. The ACLU said, "While Flock has not shortened the default retention period to the ACLU's recommended 48 hours, its proposal may be a step in the right direction. Whether this is a real change or just another Flock PR move, however, will depend on how its 'Evidence Mode' operates."
The decision to reduce data retention from 30 days to seven days is notable, but the override mechanism could still allow indefinite access. This tension reflects a broader national debate about automated surveillance and civil liberties, as municipalities and states weigh new rules for law enforcement technology.
Langley said state regulators should "pass bills that make [the illegal use of Flock data] a criminal offense." In his Fox News conversation, he referenced the steps the firm has already taken. For investors, the ongoing controversy represents a regulatory and reputational risk, but Flock's role in crime-solving continues to attract police contracts. How the company balances these pressures will determine its long-term standing amid increasing public scrutiny.
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