- Flock Safety plans to cut about 18% of its staff, roughly 270 people
- The reductions follow a voluntary buyout offered in September
- Affected employees are expected to leave at the end of October
- The company has not publicly confirmed the plan and declined to comment
- Flock faces privacy lawsuits and public opposition to its cameras
Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based maker of AI-powered cameras and licence-plate readers, plans to cut about 18% of its staff, or roughly 270 employees, people familiar with the plans said on Thursday.
What is happening
The cuts follow a voluntary buyout programme, the people said. Staff who are affected are expected to leave at the end of October. The company had not made the plan public when the news emerged.
In September, Flock offered staff a voluntary separation scheme. Employees who wanted to leave were asked to apply.
The company’s response
Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel said the company recently offered current employees a generous Voluntary Separation Program. He said it was part of efforts to prepare the company for its next phase of growth.
“This was a voluntary program, not a layoff,” the spokesperson said.
Flock would not say whether CEO Garrett Langley would take a pay cut. It also declined to say whether other executives had done so.
Key figures
- About 1,500 employees
- About 120,000 AI-powered cameras in 49 US states
- Supplies more than 4,800 law enforcement agencies and nearly 1,000 businesses
- Founded in 2017, with over $950 million raised from venture capital investors
- Latest $275 million round in March, led by Andreessen Horowitz, valued the company at $7.5 billion
Growing opposition
Opposition to Flock has spread across state and local governments. In September, Florida banned automated licence-plate readers from state highways, citing privacy risks tied to Flock’s cameras.
The company also faces a privacy lawsuit in Virginia. It alleges that the wide use of Flock’s AI cameras amounts to warrantless surveillance.
Home Depot investors have demanded reviews of the retailer’s ties to surveillance technology vendors. The demand followed reports that Flock’s data was used in immigration enforcement.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 38% of respondents support Flock cameras in their communities. Another 47% oppose them.
Several law enforcement departments, including the Los Angeles Police Department, have let their contracts with Flock expire or lapse. They cited privacy and civil liberties concerns.
What happens next
The job cuts are expected to take effect at the end of October. Flock has not publicly confirmed the plan.
