Flock CEO apologizes for cases where surveillance technology was abused as company rolls out changes
Flock CEO Apologizes for Cases of Surveillance Technology Abuse
Wertynews.com – The Flock CEO apologizes for cases where law enforcement officers allegedly misused access to the company’s surveillance network, marking a significant moment for the surveillance technology firm. Garrett Langley, chief executive of Flock Safety, issued a public apology Thursday following revelations that police officers faced accusations in 46 separate incidents of improper data usage. Some officers were reportedly accused of stalking women through the license plate camera system.
Langley shared that he had personally listened to one victim’s interview on Thursday morning before making his statement. “I apologize,” Langley told CBS News reporters. “It kills me that she went through that.” When questioned about whether he had taken sufficient responsibility in a timely manner, the executive acknowledged that hindsight reveals missed opportunities. “Hindsight tends to be very clear,” he explained. “And I think, of course, we could have done more earlier, and we listen, and we learn, and we’ll continue to move forward because until everyone has an equal level of safety in this country, we have work to do.”
New Policies and System Changes
Despite acknowledging shortcomings, Langley maintained that Flock’s technology serves a valuable purpose. The company operates a network of 120,000 cameras across the United States that capture license plate numbers and vehicle details as cars pass by. “It gets to this issue that when you are given power, which many people are, particularly in law enforcement, you should have higher standards of accountability,” Langley stated. “And so, I don’t think that Flock created police abuse. I think we’re the first company to ever shine a light on it and build the tools to find it.”
Among the policy updates announced Thursday, Flock is shortening the default data retention period from 30 days down to just seven days. However, the company introduced what it calls “Evidence Mode,” which allows investigators to preserve data longer when tied to active cases requiring extended timelines. Additionally, every search conducted through the system will now mandate that officers enter a case code before accessing information. This requirement can be bypassed during emergencies, such as when a child goes missing and immediate action is necessary.
Customers of Flock’s platform will gain the ability to restrict which categories of offenses outside agencies can query within the system. These categories include serious crimes like homicide, arson, and assault. By year’s end, all law enforcement clients must activate a monitoring tool designed to detect unusual search patterns and temporarily lock out users until administrators review their activity. Approximately one-third of agencies have already enabled this feature since its earlier rollout this year.
“You will get caught, plain and simple. If you try to use this tool illegally, you will get caught,” Langley warned officers considering unauthorized use of the surveillance system.
The American Civil Liberties Union has been among Flock’s most vocal critics, arguing that the company’s practices infringe upon citizens’ privacy rights. In a Thursday statement, the ACLU acknowledged that reducing data retention “may be a step in the right direction.” However, the organization cautioned that “whether this is a real change or just another Flock PR move, however, will depend on how its ‘Evidence Mode’ operates.” During the CBS News interview, Langley addressed any officers contemplating using Flock to track individuals unrelated to investigations. “You will get caught, plain and simple. If you try to use this tool illegally, you will get caught,” he said. “And I hope that state regulators pass bills that make that a criminal offense. It should not just be a termination. It should be a criminal offense if you abuse your power.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes is Flock making to address surveillance abuse? Flock is reducing data retention from 30 days to 7 days, requiring case codes for searches, and mandating that all law enforcement customers activate abnormal search detection tools by year-end.
How many cases of alleged abuse were reported? According to a Washington Post investigation, police officers faced accusations in 46 separate cases of improperly using access to Flock’s license plate camera network.
What is Evidence Mode? Evidence Mode allows Flock to preserve data beyond the standard 7-day retention period when information is connected to ongoing investigations requiring extended timelines.
What penalties does Langley recommend for officers who misuse the system? Langley stated that abuse of the surveillance tool should result in criminal offenses rather than simple termination from employment.
