Amid protests against surveillance cameras, Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley told Fox News that Americans need to find a “compromise” between privacy and security.
“When people focus solely on either privacy or security, their priorities are misplaced. As a country, we need to compromise,” he added.
According to Langley, the main task is to ensure regulation and oversight of how law enforcement uses surveillance systems.
Flock Safety has faced criticism over its video recorders used to collect vehicle data for investigations. However, citizens are concerned about the technology due to privacy threats and potential police misuse.
Meanwhile, the company’s CEO claims the system has assisted authorities in over 1 million investigations and in locating more than 10,000 missing persons.
Ban or Regulate?
The issue of surveillance cameras has reached the political arena. Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a complete ban on the technology.
The AI surveillance company Flock has installed nearly 100,000 cameras across America to track your every movement.
Going to the doctor? Flock knows.
Dropping your kid off at school? Flock is tracking you.
Flock is always watching.
STOP AI MASS SURVEILLANCE. STOP FLOCK.
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 18, 2026
“Flock has installed nearly 100,000 cameras across the U.S. to track your every move. Going to the doctor? Flock knows. Dropping your kid off at school? Flock is tracking you,” Sanders wrote.
Three Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a bill to ban federal authorities from purchasing automated surveillance systems with facial recognition, biometric identifiers, or license plate reading capabilities, including Flock cameras.
Ordinary American citizens are also showing signs of protest. Some destroy cameras or paint over lenses, while others hold more peaceful demonstrations.
For instance, a man in Florida held a sign in front of a camera reading “Down with Flock.”
At a public hearing on surveillance systems in San Diego, a person dressed as Darth Vader claimed that “the emperor is a fan of Flock.”
“We all know that cameras don’t just read license plates, they also monitor children,” the speaker added.
In response to criticism, Flock has reduced its data retention period from 30 to seven days and requires a case code before accessing data. Langley also announced the implementation of additional audit requirements and a tool to detect anomalous behavior.
Additionally, the CEO emphasized the need for legislation to criminalize the illegal use of Flock data.
“Today, Flock and many other technologies lack regulation. There is no accountability, and we believe that’s wrong,” Langley concluded.
In August, journalists reported on the testing of an AI tool by the company that allows police to search for drivers based on routes and movement patterns.
