Flock CEO defends surveillance technology amid backlash
Garrett Langley, founder and CEO of Flock, defended the company's controversial surveillance technology during an interview at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Despite facing public criticism, canceled contracts, and layoffs, Langley argued that increased surveillance leads to a safer society by holding criminals more accountable. He compared his stance to advancements like driverless cars, suggesting progress should not be halted due to imperfections or isolated incidents. Langley acknowledged Flock is far from perfect but maintained it offers significant benefits in crime prevention and efficiency for law enforcement agencies struggling with staffing shortages post-pandemic. However, he avoided addressing ethical concerns directly, stating the company's role was to provide tools rather than dictate how they are used by cities or police departments. The CEO also noted that some customer cancellations were based on misinformation, such as a belief Flock devices performed facial recognition when in fact they only detect and track people. His comments reflect an ongoing debate about technology trade-offs between privacy and public safety.
Topics: AI ethics crime prevention privacy concerns public consent surveillance