Surveillance technology firm Flock Safety announced Friday a voluntary departure program for its employees, described internally as the “most generous” severance package the company has ever provided. According to a report by Wired, the embattled startup expects a significant portion of its 1,500-person workforce to accept the offer and plans to approve buyouts for the majority of interested participants.
The move allows Flock to part ways with staff members who have reportedly been demoralized by the ongoing controversy surrounding its license plate recognition systems. Wired noted that without these voluntary buyouts, the company would likely be forced to conduct involuntary layoffs.
Tensions escalated in August when The Washington Post identified 46 cases involving allegations that police officers misused Flock’s technology to stalk wives, girlfriends, or former partners. Since then, several jurisdictions have moved to cut ties with the startup. Both Florida and Texas announced they would cease using the technology, while an anti-surveillance advocacy group reported that 90 cities dropped Flock in August alone—a fourfold increase from the previous month.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley recently addressed the situation on the All-In podcast, stating that the most significant harm caused by the public backlash has been the damage to internal morale. TechCrunch has contacted Flock for further comment.
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