Flock Safety to Cut 270 Jobs as Backlash Grows Against 120,000 AI Cameras
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 9
Flock Safety to Cut 270 Jobs as Backlash Grows Against 120,000 AI Cameras
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 9
Summary
About 270 Flock Safety employees — roughly 18% of the workforce — are set to leave at month-end after a voluntary buyout program, according to people familiar with the plan.
The cuts come as the Atlanta surveillance startup faces mounting resistance from communities, lawmakers and privacy advocates over its AI-powered license-plate readers and data-sharing practices.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found Americans split on the technology: 38% support Flock cameras in their community, while 47% oppose them.
That scrutiny has already produced concrete setbacks, including Florida's September ban on automated license-plate readers on state highways and a Virginia privacy lawsuit alleging warrantless surveillance.
The retrenchment lands despite strong investor backing: Flock, founded in 2017, was valued at $7.5 billion in a $275 million March round and serves more than 4,800 law-enforcement agencies.