Flock CEO Defends Surveillance Tech Amid Criticism
Flock CEO Garrett Langley argues for continued progress in surveillance tech despite controversies.
2 min read
Garrett Langley, CEO of Flock Safety, a company that produces license plate cameras, defended his company’s surveillance technology during a panel interview at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco. Despite facing canceled contracts and layoffs, Langley emphasized that progress should not be halted by the imperfections of the technology.
Progress vs. Perfection
Langley addressed critics who argue that Flock’s cameras represent invasive surveillance. He argued that society should not pause progress just because technology is not perfect. “If we want to live in a society where, if you commit a crime, you have a higher probability of being held accountable, we shouldn’t pause progress,” he said.
To support his argument, Langley used the analogy of driverless cars. “Technology, at its core, in its definition, is just doing things better. It’s not doing things perfect,” he said. A single crash, he argued, should not be grounds for pulling the technology entirely. “Driverless cars, I think, are definitively safer than human drivers. And when there’s one accident, I don’t think the answer is to shut down driverless cars. The answer is to say, ‘Hey, let’s talk about how we prevent more accidents in the future.’”
Collaboration with Law Enforcement
Langley also discussed Flock’s relationship with cities and police departments that use its cameras. He stated that the company does not dictate policy but instead provides recommendations and defaults. “We don’t want to tell city leaders how to do their job,” he said. “We will provide recommendations, we’ll provide defaults, but we’re going to minimize the number of mandated features, functions, and policies.”
Addressing Concerns About Abuse
When asked about concerns that the technology could be abused, Langley said oversight is possible without disrupting police work. “I think if the idea is to curb abuse, I think there’s a way to do that that doesn’t disrupt the legal system, that doesn’t disrupt the efficacy and flow of a police department,” he said.
Challenges in Law Enforcement
Langley also highlighted the staffing shortages in law enforcement, which he said have worsened since the coronavirus pandemic. “If you look at where policing has gone over the last decade, but particularly post-COVID, law enforcement employment is declining rapidly. I think about a place like San Francisco, and there’s hundreds of open positions. They will probably never be filled,” he said.
Despite the controversies, Langley acknowledged the toll of leading a company at the center of national debate. “I think one of the unfortunate consequences of building a consequential company is this is the price you pay, and I think it’s worth it because there’s millions and millions of people who have a better life today because of Flock,” he said. “And clearly we’ve made our fair share of mistakes, and there’s some folks who disagree with what we do, but it’s worth it because one day they might be a victim.”
Source: Breitbart
