Flock Safety is laying off approximately 270 employees as the surveillance technology company faces increasing public and regulatory scrutiny.

Flock Safety, a startup specializing in AI-powered surveillance cameras and license-plate readers, plans to cut about 18% of its staff. The layoffs, which are expected to affect roughly 270 employees, follow a voluntary buyout program initiated by the company in September. Affected staff members are scheduled to leave the company at the end of the month.

Growing public and regulatory opposition

Flock, which is based in Atlanta and was founded in 2017, operates a network of approximately 120,000 cameras across 49 states. While the company states its technology assists law enforcement agencies and businesses in solving crimes, it has faced mounting criticism regarding privacy and data-sharing practices. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 47% of Americans oppose the use of Flock cameras in their communities, while 38% support them. Legal and political challenges have also intensified. Florida recently banned automated license plate readers from state highways, citing privacy concerns. Additionally, a privacy lawsuit in Virginia alleges that the company's camera deployment constitutes warrantless surveillance, and investors at Home Depot have requested reviews of the retailer's vendor partnerships due to reports linking Flock data to immigration enforcement.

Company growth and investment

Despite current challenges, Flock has experienced significant growth and investor interest. The company has raised over $950 million in venture capital, including a $275 million funding round in March led by Andreessen Horowitz that valued the firm at $7.5 billion. These funds have been directed toward a new US manufacturing facility and the development of drone products. Currently, the company provides technology to more than 4,800 law enforcement agencies and nearly 1,000 businesses.