Flock Safety has introduced a voluntary buyout program with severance packages. WIRED reports that the decision comes amid criticism of its license plate recognition systems and the loss of some clients.
Applications opened on September 18 and will be accepted until October 2, according to an internal company memo. The company expects to approve most of the applications.
The severance package is described as the “most generous” in Flock Safety’s history. According to the publication, some employees received offers worth tens of thousands of dollars, several months of health insurance, and the option to sell company shares within two years of departure.
Journalists linked the program to growing criticism of the network of license plate reading cameras and the termination of some major contracts. Launched in 2017, the project faced a wave of negativity from American citizens due to privacy concerns and alleged police misuse.
Dozens of cities are ending their partnerships with Flock, and vandalism against the cameras has increased internal costs. The Bay Area civil rights group identified 93 municipal and county authorities that severed ties with the company in August.
Sources indicated that some employees might accept the buyout offer amid discussions of a potential sale of part or all of the business.
Earlier this summer, Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley called for a “compromise” between privacy and security.
