Surveillance firm Flock cuts staff amid privacy concerns

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 18:19 · Archive

Surveillance camera company Flock is cutting 18 per cent of its workforce following backlash over its licence plate readers.

Surveillance company Flock is cutting its workforce by 18 per cent, amounting to around 270 employees, following a voluntary separation programme. The employees are leaving at the end of October. Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel told TechCrunch that the programme reflected the company's efforts to 'position the company for its next phase of growth' and was 'a voluntary program, not a layoff'. TechCrunch reported that the company would not comment on whether chief executive Garrett Langley or other executives took pay cuts as part of the programme.

Flock has faced mounting criticism from communities and legislators across the United States over its privately run mass surveillance programme. The company has installed over 100,000 licence plate-reading cameras, which allow police and federal agents to track the location and movement of vehicles. Dozens of police officers have been arrested, fired or forced to resign for abusing access to Flock's system to search, track and stalk people without a warrant or their permission.

How it is being reported

• AI surveillance startup Flock to cut several hundred jobs amid backlash, sources sayCompany, which grown rapidly in recent years, has been under scrutiny as privacy concerns grow Flock Safety plans to let go of about 18% of its employees, people with direct knowledge of the plans said on Thursday, as the maker of AI -powered surveillance cameras and license-plate readers faces mounting opposition to its products from communities and lawmakers. The people said the job cuts came after a voluntary buyout program and were expected to affect roughly 270 employees at Flock, a surveillance technology startup that has seen rapid growth in recent years. Employees will leave the…The Guardian · 9 Oct, 20:46
• Surveillance company Flock cuts staff as privacy backlash growsFlock would not say if CEO Garrett Langley would take a pay cut following the staff cuts.TechCrunch · 9 Oct, 14:40

In this story: Flock · Garrett Langley · Paris Lewbel · United States

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem