Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 1 hr ago
Flock CEO defends surveillance tools amid backlash and cancelled contracts
Flock CEO Garrett Langley defended the company’s surveillance technology at a technology event in San Francisco.
Flock makes license plate cameras and other recording devices used by police and cities.
Langley argued that surveillance can help hold people accountable for crimes, and said society may have to trade some privacy for reduced crime.
The company faces public criticism that has led to cancelled contracts and layoffs.
Flock cameras do not use facial recognition, but they can detect and track people.
Langley said city leaders should decide how the technology is used, while Flock offers recommendations and default settings; no further steps were specified.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley defended the company’s surveillance technology at a panel at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco.
He argued that surveillance can help hold people accountable for crimes and said society should not pause technological progress.
Flock has faced national criticism that has contributed to cancelled contracts and layoffs.
Langley said Flock cameras do not use facial recognition, but can detect and track people.
He said decisions about how Flock’s technology is used should largely be left to city leaders.
- Who
- Flock founder and CEO Garrett Langley defended the company’s surveillance technology.
- What
- He argued against pausing its development amid criticism, cancelled contracts and layoffs.
- When
- Wednesday, at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The article was published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- San Francisco.
- Why
- Langley argued that surveillance can help hold people accountable for crimes and that progress should not be paused.
Flock and CEO Garrett Langley
Critics of Flock’s surveillance technology
Privacy and public safety
Flock and CEO Garrett Langley
Langley argued that surveillance can improve accountability for crimes.
Critics of Flock’s surveillance technology
Critics have raised concerns about Flock’s surveillance technology and its use.
Technology’s risks and benefits
Flock and CEO Garrett Langley
Langley said progress should not be paused and that technology need not be perfect.
Critics of Flock’s surveillance technology
Critics have opposed the technology, and backlash has contributed to cancelled contracts.
Criticism of Flock contributed to cancelled contracts and layoffs.
Langley defended Flock’s surveillance technology during a panel at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco.
- CEO
- Garrett Langley
- Event
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
- Location
- San Francisco
- Camera capability
- Flock cameras can detect and track people, but do not have facial recognition.
- Reported effects of backlash
- Cancelled contracts and layoffs
3 sources
What people are saying
If we want to live in a society where, if you commit a crime, you have a higher probability of being held accountable, we shouldn’t pause progress
Flock is far from perfect; I’m far from perfect — I’ve made plenty of mistakes
We don’t want to tell city leaders how to do their job