Surveillance Company Flock Cuts Staff Amid Growing Privacy Backlash
Surveillance camera maker Flock is reducing its workforce by 18% through a voluntary separation program as the company faces mounting scrutiny over privacy concerns, system misuse, and canceled law enforcement contracts.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Workforce Reduction and Voluntary Buyouts
Surveillance camera maker Flock is cutting its workforce as the company faces ongoing and growing backlash to its license plate readers and people-tracking technology. News of the staff cuts stems from reporting indicating that Flock is reducing its staff by 18%, or around 270 employees, across the board. These employees are scheduled to leave at the end of October following a voluntary buyout program.
Earlier, it was reported that Flock was asking some of its employees to leave, citing the need to shrink its staff to avoid mandatory layoffs. Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel stated that the company recently offered current employees a generous Voluntary Separation Program to position the business for its next phase of growth, emphasizing that it was a voluntary program rather than a layoff.
When asked whether chief executive Garrett Langley or other executives took a pay cut as part of the program, the Flock spokesperson declined to comment further.
Mass Surveillance and System Misuse
Flock has faced heavy criticism and mounting pushback from communities across the United States and legislators looking to rein in what a federal judge termed the company’s privately run mass surveillance program. Flock has installed over 100,000 license plate-reading cameras across the country, allowing police and federal agents to track the location and whereabouts of passing vehicles.
Amid these deployments, 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.
Public Backlash and Security Concerns
While some cities have moved to take down Flock’s cameras citing public outcry, the company has frequently replaced them, which has prompted some Americans to destroy the cameras in protest. Security experts have also questioned Flock’s accuracy after the system misidentified license plates, resulting in improper police stops and arrests, including an incident involving a journalist who was driving an authorized review vehicle.
In addition to tracking concerns, Flock has faced criticism for poor cybersecurity, including instances where cameras were publicly exposed and accessible from the web.
Lost Law Enforcement Contracts
The mounting scrutiny has affected the company's business relationships. Several law enforcement departments, including Los Angeles’ police department, have allowed their contracts to expire or lapse, citing serious concerns over privacy and civil liberties.
Sources
- TechCrunchSurveillance company Flock cuts staff as privacy backlash grows
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