Flock's marketing claims have been used by local leaders and law enforcement officials to justify spending on the technology. However, some law enforcement officials are skeptical of Flock’s claims and academics have criticized the company's white paper that concludes "10% of reported crime in the U.S. is solved using Flock technology." Despite these concerns, more cities are lining up for Flock deployments, with millions of dollars being earmarked for new Flock Safety cameras.
Key takeaways:
- Flock Safety, a $4 billion surveillance startup, has been accused of manipulating crime statistics to promote its AI-powered license plate readers to law enforcement clients.
- Despite Flock Safety's claims of reducing crime rates, analysis of several jurisdictions where the technology has been deployed shows mixed results, with some areas even experiencing an increase in crime.
- Experts and academics have criticized Flock Safety's marketing claims and the methodology of its studies, with some suggesting the company is cherry-picking data to support its narrative.
- Despite the controversy, many law enforcement officials have praised the technology and it continues to be adopted by more cities, attracting significant venture funding and public spending.