Flock CEO urges compromise amid surveillance backlash

Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley is calling for a "compromise" between privacy and safety as the company faces mounting public backlash over its automated license plate readers (ALPRs). In a Fox News interview, Langley said, "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" Source: TechCrunch. The company has been criticized for potential misuse of its technology, including cases where police officers allegedly used it to stalk individuals Source: TechCrunch. Langley has apologized for such incidents but insists Flock did not create police abuse Source: TechCrunch.

The backlash

Criticism has come from both sides of the political spectrum. Democratic figures like Bernie Sanders have called to "STOP FLOCK," while three House Republicans introduced a bill to ban federal purchase of such surveillance systems Source: TechCrunch. At least 56 municipalities have deactivated or canceled Flock contracts this year, according to DeFlock Source: The Guardian. Some residents have resorted to vandalizing cameras, such as Brady O'Rourke in Minnesota, who blocks a camera with a sign Source: NPR.

Company response

Flock has reduced default data retention from 30 days to seven days and requires a case code for data access, but these changes can be overridden via "Evidence Mode" Source: TechCrunch. The ACLU called the changes "a step in the right direction" but questioned their sincerity Source: TechCrunch. Langley has urged state regulators to make illegal use of Flock data a criminal offense Source: TechCrunch.

Competitors step in

As Flock faces scrutiny, competitors like Axon are seizing opportunities, replacing Flock in at least seven municipalities Source: The Guardian. Privacy advocates warn that swapping vendors doesn't address underlying surveillance concerns Source: The Guardian. The national database of license plate images remains a core point of contention Source: NPR.