Flock has not dropped any customer over abuse of its licence plate cameras, chief executive Garrett Langley said on Wednesday. He spoke on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, in an interview with TechCrunch editor-in-chief Connie Loizos. Flock would “fire” a customer that knowingly broke the law, he said, TechCrunch reported.
“Most of the debate is nuanced into ‘what if two officers out of fifty were caught?’ Today, we haven’t fired any customers, but it’s not off the table in the case of some pretty drastic law-abiding issue.” Garrett Langley, Flock CEO, at TechCrunch Disrupt
Atlanta-based Flock has more than 100,000 cameras across the US. Reporting cited by TechCrunch has found dozens of officers who faced arrest, firing or forced resignation after they abused its national database. Many used it to stalk people. Florida and Texas have both moved against its cameras. Earlier this month, a US judge ruled that one police Flock search was unconstitutional mass surveillance.
Misinformation and microphones
Langley blamed part of the backlash on what he called misinformation online, The San Francisco Standard reported. He said social media had become “so interwoven with politics” and “rife with misinformation”. An Illinois council member, he said, had cancelled his city’s contract over facial recognition, which Flock does not offer. The “big opportunity” for Flock, Langley said, was to “better control our story”.
He also said Flock’s gunshot-detection microphones listen for “just gunshots”, TechCrunch reported. Flock’s own website says the system can also send alerts for car crashes, fireworks and sideshows.
“Flock’s gunshot detection technology is primarily used to detect gunfire but is also capable of detecting fireworks, sideshows, and potential car crashes.” Paris Lewbel, Flock spokesperson, to TechCrunch
Lewbel said Langley meant that the system does not monitor conversations or analyse speech. Nor does it currently detect human screaming or distress, Lewbel said. Langley said Flock had made a mistake when it piloted detection of human distress with a few customers. Flock has since rolled the feature back.
‘We shouldn’t pause progress’
Langley compared Flock to driverless cars, which he said are safer than human drivers. One accident, he argued, is no reason to shut them down, TechCrunch reported.
“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.” Garrett Langley, at TechCrunch Disrupt
He said Flock would give city leaders recommendations and defaults, but keep mandated features and policies to a minimum. In August, he said, Flock advised customers to cut data retention from 30 days to seven.
Flock has about 6,000 customers in the US, Langley confirmed on stage, about 60% of them law enforcement agencies. He said he had “no desire to sell” the company. Flock plans to cut about 18% of its staff, Reuters reported this month.
“I think one of the unfortunate consequences of building a consequential company is this is the price you pay, and I think it’s worth it because there’s millions and millions of people who have a better life today because [of] Flock.” Garrett Langley, at TechCrunch Disrupt
The protest outside
About 20 protesters gathered outside the Moscone Center an hour before Langley went on stage, the Standard reported. Some wore red robes from The Handmaid’s Tale and cardboard Flock cameras on their heads.
“We didn’t consent. It’s basically a surveillance state we didn’t ask for.” Kara Starkey, protester, to The San Francisco Standard
Asked by TechCrunch what she would ask Langley, Ashley Ortiz, an organiser with local activist group The Wolves, said:
“What about AI-powered mass surveillance should be making us feel safe?” Ashley Ortiz, The Wolves, to TechCrunch