Flock Safety, a surveillance technology company, has faced significant challenges in August 2026, including the cancellation of at least 34 contracts and public criticism. The company has sold over 120,000 automated license plate reader cameras to approximately 6,000 police departments in the U.S. Reports indicate that dozens of police officers have lost their jobs or faced charges for misusing the technology, which allows tracking of vehicle movements. In response to the backlash, Flock has implemented voluntary security practices but has received criticism from advocacy groups for their inadequacy.
According to the advocacy group DeFlock, at least 56 municipalities have either canceled contracts or deactivated Flock cameras this year, with some opting for competitors like Axon or Motorola. In a notable incident, a House candidate in Tennessee allegedly shot at Flock cameras, while others have posted videos online demonstrating how to damage the cameras.
Flock's leadership has attempted to shift the narrative by claiming that the reports of police misconduct are due to Flock's effective auditing processes. Chief Strategy Officer Rahul Sidhu stated that Flock is unique in its level of auditing in the industry. However, Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel at the ACLU, criticized Flock for treating privacy concerns as public relations issues rather than addressing the underlying problems caused by their technology. Flock Safety did not respond to a request for comment regarding these issues.