The country needs a 'compromise' between privacy and safety, according to Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley. He says people are prioritising the wrong thing and that both must be balanced.

Langley’s recent interviews follow a series of incidents where police officers have misused Flock technology for personal purposes. The company has faced growing public backlash over concerns about misuse of its surveillance cameras, drones, and license plate recognition tools.

The Washington Post identified 46 cases of alleged misuse, including instances of stalking. Langley acknowledged the pain caused but maintained that Flock is not at fault, adding that it was the first company to shine a light on police abuse.

Politicians from both sides have criticised Flock. Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed accused his opponent Mike Rogers of supporting widespread use of Flock cameras, while Bernie Sanders called for an end to AI mass surveillance. Republicans introduced a bill to ban federal purchase of certain automated surveillance systems, including Flock cameras.

Despite these criticisms, Flock has made some changes, reducing data retention time and requiring case codes before accessing data. However, these can be overridden by police using 'Evidence Mode.'