Flock CEO Says 'Goal Isn’t a Dystopian Future'

Friday, August 14, 2026

Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley pushed back against claims that the company's expanding network of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) is contributing to a surveillance state, telling Newsweek that transparency and accountability are central to the company's approach as it unveils new privacy protocols this week amid widespread backlash and protests. The technology executive told Newsweek in a Tuesday video interview that Flock's "end goal isn't a dystopian future of surveillance; it's one where we all feel safe."

Posted by lamplighter at 12:34 AM | 7 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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More from the article ...

... Critics of Flock, however, argue the opposite is true, saying the company's influx of cameras raises significant privacy concerns and, rather than making communities safer, can leave sensitive data vulnerable to misuse and mass surveillance. ...

Flock Safety is among the country's largest providers of ALPRs, which scan and record vehicle information that can then be searched by a policing network. The company has cameras in every U.S. state except Alaska, and partners with over 6,000 law enforcement agencies and more than 5,000 private customers across the U.S. ...

When asked if Flock's technology is pushing the U.S. toward a dystopian "big brother" society, Langley responded, "No, I don't think so," adding, "I'm a father of three little kids, I live in Atlanta, I pay my taxes, like I'm a pretty normal person. I have the same types of anxieties of like, where's the world going? What are we setting up for?" ...

[emphasis mine]

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-08-14 12:37 AM | Reply

@#1 ... I'm a pretty normal person ...

So... the Flock states that only "normal" people should not be concerned about the Flock cameras?

And then there is also this ...

... When asked if Flock's technology is pushing the U.S. toward a dystopian "big brother" society, Langley responded, "No, I don't think so," ...

imo, the Flock cameras are the eyes of Big Brother. Not the full embodiment of Big Brother, but just the eyes.

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-08-14 12:41 AM | Reply

The technology executive told Newsweek in a Tuesday video interview that Flock's "end goal isn't a dystopian future of surveillance; it's one where I'm wealthy enough to be above the hell I'm creating."

That's what he's really saying.

#3 | Posted by jpw at 2026-08-14 03:02 AM | Reply

"transparency and accountability are central to the company's approach "

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-08-14 11:25 AM | Reply

"Flock CEO Says 'Goal Isn't a Dystopian Future'"

IOW, pointy-Haired boss caught brain golfing again....

#5 | Posted by NerfHerder at 2026-08-14 11:37 AM | Reply

This is a joke, right?

#6 | Posted by Angrydad at 2026-08-14 04:06 PM | Reply

Hilarious thing about this is I saw a story today where the police somewhere were seeking the public's help in finding the person or people who "vandalized" a bunch of Flock cameras by spraying the lens with expanding foam.

The police statement said the perps approached from behind and sprayed them before the cameras "could identify them."

The first twenty comments were all centered around the general idea of 'I thought they only registered/recognized license plates.'

Dude could be telling the God's honest truth and it won't matter one bit. He brought this monstrosity on people and they aren't standing for it.

#7 | Posted by jpw at 2026-08-14 06:12 PM | Reply