Surveillance technology company Flock is reducing its workforce by approximately 18%, equating to roughly 270 employees, according to a Reuters report released on Friday. The cuts come as the company contends with escalating public and legislative opposition to its license plate reader and people-tracking systems.
Reuters reported that the departures will take effect at the end of October following a voluntary buyout program. Wired previously noted that Flock had proposed these voluntary separations to avoid mandatory layoffs, citing the need to downsize.
Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel described the move as a strategic step rather than a reduction in force. “Flock recently offered current employees a generous Voluntary Separation Program as part of our efforts to position the company for its next phase of growth. This was a voluntary program, not a layoff, and reflects our continued focus on building a strong, sustainable business for the future,” Lewbel told TechCrunch in a statement.
When asked whether CEO Garrett Langley or other executives took pay cuts as part of the restructuring, Flock declined to comment further.
The staff reductions coincide with heightened scrutiny of Flock’s operations across the United States. The company has deployed more than 100,000 license plate-reading cameras, enabling law enforcement and federal agents to monitor vehicle locations. However, the system has faced allegations of misuse, with dozens of police officers arrested, fired, or forced to resign for tracking individuals without warrants or proper authorization.
Cybersecurity concerns have also plagued the company. Critics point to poor data protection practices, including instances where cameras were publicly accessible via the web. Furthermore, security experts have questioned the accuracy of the technology after several cases of misidentified license plates led to wrongful police stops and arrests, including that of a journalist driving an authorized review vehicle.
Public resistance has intensified in recent months. While some municipalities have attempted to remove Flock cameras due to community outcry, the company has often replaced them quickly, leading some residents to vandalize the equipment. Additionally, several law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, have allowed their contracts to lapse, citing civil liberties and privacy concerns.
In September, a federal judge criticized the company’s practices, describing its mass surveillance methods as indiscriminate.
Wait, do executives still get bonuses while regular staff are pushed out? The lack of comment on leadership pay cuts is telling.
270 people losing their jobs is serious, even if the company calls it voluntary. What happens to these families now?
This is a direct result of years of ignoring privacy advocates. The tech industry can’t just build surveillance tools without accountability.