Flock CEO defends surveillance tech amid privacy backlash

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 15 Oct, 12:32 · Archive

Flock's CEO says his company's surveillance cameras are necessary for public safety despite widespread privacy concerns.

Flock CEO Garrett Langley defended his company's surveillance technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco, arguing that the crime-fighting benefits outweigh privacy concerns. 'If we want to live in a society where, if you commit a crime, you have a higher probability of being held accountable, we shouldn't pause progress,' Langley said. He positioned mass surveillance as an inevitable technological advance.

Langley dismissed hard questions about Flock's mounting criticism by citing anecdotes from police chiefs and tales of crimes Flock had solved. When asked whether Flock had ended contracts with law enforcement over product abuse, he said the company had not 'fired' any customers, but would immediately do so if a customer knowingly broke the law. Multiple reports have documented Flock reinstalling cameras even after local authorities removed them.

Flock faces opposition from privacy advocates including the ACLU. The company also faced backlash over its gunshot-detection microphones, which Langley claimed detect 'just gunshots' despite Flock's website describing broader capabilities including detecting screams, car crashes and fireworks. Flock initially planned to detect screaming but later said it pulled that ability from customers who tested it. Protesters gathered outside the event to voice opposition to Flock's surveillance technology.

How it is being reported

• Defiant Flock CEO says 'we shouldn't pause progress' of its ALPR camerasFlock’s CEO has made controversial statements about his company’s products and citizens’ right to privacy.TechRadar · 15 Oct, 12:19
• Flock CEO defends surveillance technology amid national backlash: ‘We shouldn’t pause progress’At TechCrunch Disrupt, Flock CEO Garrett Langley defended his company's surveillance technology despite growing privacy concerns, arguing that its crime-fighting benefits outweigh the risks of abuse.TechCrunch · 15 Oct, 01:49
• Flock CEO says its microphones detect ‘just gunshots.’ Its website says differentLangley’s comments come amid mounting scrutiny of Flock from privacy advocates, including the ACLU, and members of the public who are concerned about the misuse of its technology.TechCrunch · 14 Oct, 22:30

In this story: Flock · Garrett Langley · ACLU · San Francisco · TechCrunch Disrupt

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