Flock faces state bans, lawsuits, and investor scrutiny
Flock Safety, the Atlanta-based maker of AI-powered license-plate-reader cameras, plans to eliminate about 18% of its workforce — roughly 270 employees — after a voluntary buyout program announced in September, according to people with direct knowledge of the plans.
The people said the cuts came after the voluntary separation program and were expected to affect employees who would leave the company at the end of the month. Sources declined to be identified because the company has yet to make the plan public. Flock declined to comment.
Flock announced the voluntary separation program in September, asking employees to apply if they wanted to leave the company, as Wired reported. The company has about 1,500 employees.
Flock’s network spans about 120,000 AI-powered cameras affixed to streets and highways in 49 states, where they automatically read license plates and record passing vehicles. The company, founded in 2017 and based in Atlanta, has raised more than $950 million from venture capital investors. Its latest $275 million round in March, led by Andreessen Horowitz, valued the company at $7.5 billion, according to the company.
The capital has funded a new U.S. manufacturing facility and an upcoming push into drone products. Flock provides cameras and software to more than 4,800 law enforcement agencies and nearly 1,000 businesses. The company says its technology helps investigate and solve crimes, but it has come under increasing scrutiny over alleged privacy violations and data-sharing practices.
Public backlash has grown. In September, Florida banned automated license plate readers from state highways, citing privacy risks tied to Flock’s cameras.
Home Depot investors recently demanded reviews of the retailer’s partnerships with surveillance technology vendors after reports that Flock’s data was used in immigration enforcement.
Flock also faces legal challenges, including a privacy lawsuit in Virginia alleging that the widespread deployment of its AI-powered cameras constitutes warrantless surveillance.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Americans divided on whether Flock cameras are a good idea. About 38% of the country supports the use of Flock cameras in their community, compared with 47% who oppose their use.
Together with AI datacenters, Flock cameras have emerged as a flashpoint ahead of November’s midterm elections, with candidates increasingly attacking their opponents by tying them to the technology.