Flock Safety, a company known for its surveillance cameras, license plate readers, and drones, is currently under heavy scrutiny as concerns mount over potential misuse of its technology. CEO Garrett Langley recently emphasized the need for a national compromise between privacy and safety, arguing that focusing exclusively on one undermines the other. Langley has acknowledged instances where police officers allegedly exploited Flock's technology for personal reasons, such as stalking partners, but he contends that Flock itself has not fostered abuse, rather the company is pioneering transparency and tools to identify such misuse.

Public backlash against Flock has intensified, with both liberal and conservative politicians voicing opposition. Democratic candidates like Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed and Senator Bernie Sanders have criticized the proliferation of Flock surveillance cameras, warning about intrusive monitoring without public awareness. Meanwhile, three House Republicans introduced legislation to ban federal purchases of automated surveillance systems that include technologies like facial recognition and license plate readers — specifically naming Flock Safety cameras in the bill.

In response to criticism, Flock has implemented some changes meant to tighten data privacy rules. These include reducing default data retention from 30 days to seven days and requiring case codes for accessing footage. However, such safeguards can be bypassed through options like “Evidence Mode,” allowing longer retention. The American Civil Liberties Union remains skeptical, stating that meaningful privacy protections depend on how these override features are managed and enforced.

Langley has called for clearer government regulation, urging state legislators to enact criminal penalties for unlawful use of surveillance data. He highlighted accountability and regulatory oversight as essential to balancing safety with privacy concerns. Langley is slated to discuss these pressing issues and the future of surveillance technology at TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference in October, amid ongoing debates over the ethical limits of automated monitoring tools.