Los Angeles-based surveillance technology company Flock Safety has launched a voluntary employee separation program, offering generous severance packages as the firm contends with a rising tide of customer cancellations and public scrutiny. According to an internal email reviewed by WIRED, applications for the buyout program opened Friday, with a deadline of October 2 for employees to decide whether to accept the offer.
Flock is believed to employ approximately 1,500 people, and sources familiar with the situation indicate that the company expects to approve the majority of applications. It is anticipated that a significant number of staff may choose to depart amid the company’s growing difficulties.
The move comes as Flock experiences a sharp decline in clientele across the United States. Law enforcement agencies and municipalities are increasingly terminating contracts or choosing not to renew them due to widespread concerns regarding privacy violations and the potential for misuse of its license plate reader network. Over the past month, reports have highlighted allegations of officers using the system to track former partners and colleagues, as well as instances where data access was shared with thousands of external organizations.
Additional revelations regarding the manufacturing origins of the devices and the extensive data collected by the cameras have further intensified the backlash. In response to the turmoil, Flock has described the new separation package as its most generous to date, roughly doubling previous severance offers and providing extended health care coverage and a two-year window to exercise stock options.
Founded in 2017, Flock achieved a valuation exceeding $8 billion in an April funding round backed by prominent investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global. However, the loss of revenue from canceled contracts, combined with unexpected expenses from a recent surge in vandalism targeting its cameras, has reportedly put pressure on the company’s financial goals.
Internal morale has been identified as a critical casualty of the controversy. CEO Garrett Langley acknowledged on the All-In podcast last month that the external backlash had primarily damaged the company from within. “Why are people so mad at us when we’ve been doing the same thing for nine years?” Langley asked, referencing the frustration voiced by employees on social media platforms.
While some employees have reportedly received buyout offers in the tens of thousands of dollars, speculation persists that Flock may eventually need to sell off parts of its business to remain viable. Employees are expected to learn of the status of their applications by October 9, with most separations scheduled to occur by October 29.
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