In Leaked Audio, Flock CEO Tells Cops Backlash to the Company Isn't Real

Your location data logged by Flock cameras can be searched by any US law enforcement agency without a warrant.

Flock CEO Garrett Langley stated at a private police conference that backlash and protests against his company's automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology are not genuine. Leaked audio from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference reveals Langley claiming that social media opposition is largely driven by Russian bots and that coordinated protests are not organic. He suggested that online criticism of Flock has decreased significantly, correlating a 50% drop with a Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian data center. Langley also indicated he would prefer to avoid media interviews and, following his wife's advice, intends to stop apologizing for the company's actions. Flock's ALPR technology creates timestamped logs of vehicle movements, and the company has faced scrutiny over potential misuse by law enforcement, leading dozens of cities to cancel contracts. Despite public and media criticism, Langley believes the company is nearing the end of an intense debate period and will rebound.

Langley's dismissal of public concern as inorganic and bot-driven, while simultaneously claiming his company does 'good work,' signals a deep disconnect between Flock's operational reality and public perception. This stance, coupled with his stated aversion to apologies and media engagement, suggests a strategy of doubling down rather than addressing valid privacy and surveillance critiques. The reliance on unverified theories about bot activity and foreign interference also deflects from the documented instances of Flock data being used for controversial purposes, such as immigration enforcement and post-abortion tracking.

The CEO's comments indicate that Flock may continue to resist transparency and public accountability, potentially exacerbating tensions with communities concerned about surveillance. This approach could lead to further legislative scrutiny and increased public activism, as well as continued erosion of trust between law enforcement agencies, their constituents, and the technology providers they employ. The market implications involve potential for increased regulatory action, greater difficulty in securing new city contracts, and a heightened risk for existing customers reliant on Flock's expansive national camera network.