Flock CEO calls for ‘compromise’ as surveillance company faces growing backlash
techcrunch ·
Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley has been defending the company amid mounting criticism over its surveillance cameras, drones, and license plate recognition technology, calling for a national 'compromise' between privacy and safety. Concerns have been fueled by a Washington Post report that identified 46 cases of police officers accused of misusing Flock technology for unauthorized purposes, such as stalking spouses or exes. Langley apologized for the alleged victim's experience but argued Flock did not create police abuse and instead helped expose it. Politicians from both parties have criticized the company, with Democratic figures like Bernie Sanders and Abdul El-Sayed voicing opposition, and House Republicans introducing a bill to ban federal purchases of such surveillance systems. Flock has responded by reducing default data retention from 30 days to seven days and requiring a case code to access data, though both measures can be overridden, such as with its Evidence Mode. The ACLU called the changes a possible step forward but questioned whether they represent real reform or a public relations move. Langley has also urged state regulators to criminalize illegal use of Flock data, and he is scheduled to appear at TechCrunch's Disrupt conference in October.
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