Forbes

AI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In America

GovTech

Effingham, Ill., Officials Say Flock Cameras Have Helped

Take Back Our Tech

It's Like PalantirBut for Cars

Techdirt

Flock Safety’s Feature Updates Cannot Make Automated License Plate Readers Safe

Wapt 16

ACLU challenges Flock Safetys AI surveillance

Flock Safety

The Future of Investigations: How Flocks New AI-Powered Tools Are Transforming Vehicular Evidence

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John Smart

There's a "wall of fear-mongering and doomerism" in the AI world right now.

"Worrying about AI today is like worrying about overpopulation on Mars."

Concerns that AI could pose a threat to humanity is "preposterously ridiculous."

Claiming AI poses an existential threat is "such an extreme" and risks "wip[ing] out some of its potential benefits."

"I'm more concerned about... the risks that are here and now [than the existential threat of AI]."

Current AI is "not anywhere close" to posing an existential threat but it could in the future.

AI is the "biggest existential threat" to humanity.

AGI's worst-case scenario would be "lights-out for all of us."

Powerful AI systems "taking control" pose an "existential threat."

AI has a "10 to 25 per cent" chance of destroying humanity.

"The most likely result of building a superhumanly smart AI... is that literally everyone on Earth will die."

Does AI Pose an Existential Threat to Humanity?

Flock Safety runs more than 80,000 AI license plate reader cameras nationwide, tracking plates, makes, and features to build a searchable police database. Valued at $7.5 billion, it serves over 5,000 agencies in 49 states with a projected 2024 revenue of $300 million.

Flock Safety runs more than 80,000 AI license plate reader cameras nationwide, tracking plates, makes, and features to build a searchable police database. Valued at $7.5 billion, it serves over 5,000 agencies in 49 states with a projected 2024 revenue of $300 million.

Police use Flock cameras to track stolen cars, identify fleeing suspects, and find missing persons through a nationwide license plate database. Each camera costs $3,000–$3,500 plus FlockOS fees, with some cities like Dunwoody, Ga., paying about $500,000 yearly.

Police use Flock cameras to track stolen cars, identify fleeing suspects, and find missing persons through a nationwide license plate database. Each camera costs $3,000–$3,500 plus FlockOS fees, with some cities like Dunwoody, Ga., paying about $500,000 yearly.

Flock says its cameras help solve about 1 million crimes yearly, aiding 100% homicide solve rates in Tulsa, Okla., and Cobb County, Ga., while helping dismantle trafficking rings in Detroit. CEO Garrett Langley predicts near-total U.S. crime eradication within 10 years.

Flock says its cameras help solve about 1 million crimes yearly, aiding 100% homicide solve rates in Tulsa, Okla., and Cobb County, Ga., while helping dismantle trafficking rings in Detroit. CEO Garrett Langley predicts near-total U.S. crime eradication within 10 years.

Flock offers AI tools like FreeForm Search, letting officers find vehicles with plain descriptions such as "blue SUV with racing stripe," plus features to detect plate swaps, interstate movements, and crime hotspots. Its Nova platform merges police records with public data, like Social Security numbers and credit histories, into searchable AI databases.

Flock offers AI tools like FreeForm Search, letting officers find vehicles with plain descriptions such as "blue SUV with racing stripe," plus features to detect plate swaps, interstate movements, and crime hotspots. Its Nova platform merges police records with public data, like Social Security numbers and credit histories, into searchable AI databases.

It also serves 1,000 corporate clients, including FedEx, Lowe's and Home Depot, with 171 hardware stores using its cameras in parking lots. Businesses, schools and housing groups can also share feeds with police, expanding surveillance beyond public cameras.

It also serves 1,000 corporate clients, including FedEx, Lowe's and Home Depot, with 171 hardware stores using its cameras in parking lots. Businesses, schools and housing groups can also share feeds with police, expanding surveillance beyond public cameras.

The Illinois Attorney General is probing Flock for allegedly letting border agents access state plate data for immigration and abortion cases, while privacy advocates and the ACLU warn of mass surveillance, and cities like Austin, Texas, Denver, Colo., Norfolk, Va. and San Diego push back.

The Illinois Attorney General is probing Flock for allegedly letting border agents access state plate data for immigration and abortion cases, while privacy advocates and the ACLU warn of mass surveillance, and cities like Austin, Texas, Denver, Colo., Norfolk, Va. and San Diego push back.

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Police departments use Flock cameras to track stolen vehicles, identify suspects fleeing crime scenes, and locate missing persons by searching the nationwide network of surveillance footage and license plate data. Each camera costs between $3,000 and $3,500 with additional fees for FlockOS software, with some departments like Dunwoody paying around $500,000 annually for their camera arrays and associated technology.</span

Police departments use Flock cameras to track stolen vehicles, identify suspects fleeing crime scenes, and locate missing persons by searching the nationwide network of surveillance footage and license plate data. Each camera costs between $3,000 and $3,500 with additional fees for FlockOS software, with some departments like Dunwoody paying around $500,000 annually for their camera arrays and associated technology.

Flock Safety claims its cameras help solve approximately 1 million crimes per year and has assisted in achieving 100% homicide solve rates in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Cobb County, Georgia, while also helping dismantle human trafficking rings in Detroit, Michigan. The company's CEO Garrett Langley predicts that within 10 years, Flock's surveillance network will eradicate almost all crime in the United States through comprehensive monitoring coverage.</span

Flock Safety claims its cameras help solve approximately 1 million crimes per year and has assisted in achieving 100% homicide solve rates in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Cobb County, Georgia, while also helping dismantle human trafficking rings in Detroit, Michigan. The company's CEO Garrett Langley predicts that within 10 years, Flock's surveillance network will eradicate almost all crime in the United States through comprehensive monitoring coverage.

The company has introduced AI-powered tools including FreeForm Search that allows officers to search for vehicles using plain language descriptions like "blue SUV with racing stripe," and features that detect plate swapping, multi-state vehicle movements, and high-frequency crime hotspots. Flock's Nova platform combines law enforcement records with public information including Social Security numbers and credit histories to create searchable databases using artificial intelligence technology.</span

The company has introduced AI-powered tools including FreeForm Search that allows officers to search for vehicles using plain language descriptions like "blue SUV with racing stripe," and features that detect plate swapping, multi-state vehicle movements, and high-frequency crime hotspots. Flock's Nova platform combines law enforcement records with public information including Social Security numbers and credit histories to create searchable databases using artificial intelligence technology.

Flock Safety operates cameras not only for law enforcement but also for 1,000 corporate customers including FedEx, Lowe's, Home Depot and Simon Property, with 171 hardware store locations using the surveillance technology in their parking lots. Private businesses, housing associations, schools and organizations can grant police access to their camera feeds, expanding the surveillance coverage available to law enforcement agencies beyond publicly-owned cameras.</span

Flock Safety operates cameras not only for law enforcement but also for 1,000 corporate customers including FedEx, Lowe's, Home Depot and Simon Property, with 171 hardware store locations using the surveillance technology in their parking lots. Private businesses, housing associations, schools and organizations can grant police access to their camera feeds, expanding the surveillance coverage available to law enforcement agencies beyond publicly-owned cameras.

The Illinois Attorney General is investigating Flock Safety for allegedly violating state law by allowing federal border enforcement officers to access Illinois license plate camera data for immigration and abortion-related investigations. Privacy advocates and the ACLU argue the company's surveillance network enables mass monitoring without individualized suspicion, with cities like Austin, San Marcos, Denver, Norfolk and San Diego pushing back against the technology.</span

The Illinois Attorney General is investigating Flock Safety for allegedly violating state law by allowing federal border enforcement officers to access Illinois license plate camera data for immigration and abortion-related investigations. Privacy advocates and the ACLU argue the company's surveillance network enables mass monitoring without individualized suspicion, with cities like Austin, San Marcos, Denver, Norfolk and San Diego pushing back against the technology.

This surveillance system creates an unprecedented threat to civil liberties by tracking millions of innocent Americans without individualized suspicion or meaningful oversight. The network enables federal agencies to circumvent legal constraints through informal data-sharing arrangements, as evidenced by ICE accessing the system for deportations and officers tracking abortion seekers. Technical safeguards prove meaningless when officers can easily circumvent restrictions, making the entire system ungovernable and ripe for abuse.

This surveillance system creates an unprecedented threat to civil liberties by tracking millions of innocent Americans without individualized suspicion or meaningful oversight. The network enables federal agencies to circumvent legal constraints through informal data-sharing arrangements, as evidenced by ICE accessing the system for deportations and officers tracking abortion seekers. Technical safeguards prove meaningless when officers can easily circumvent restrictions, making the entire system ungovernable and ripe for abuse.

Artificial Intelligence

Flock Safety's AI Surveillance Network Faces Legal Challenges

Crime & justice

Privacy

Police

Freedom & human rights

Flock Safety's cameras are revolutionizing U.S. crimefighting, solving millions of crimes yearly. From busting ATM gangs to preempting armed threats, it empowers local cops to safeguard events and communities. Its vision of eradicating crime via drones, AI insights and community investments balances safety with liberties, potentially making America crime-free while boosting quality of life.

Flock Safety's cameras are revolutionizing U.S. crimefighting, solving millions of crimes yearly. From busting ATM gangs to preempting armed threats, it empowers local cops to safeguard events and communities. Its vision of eradicating crime via drones, AI insights and community investments balances safety with liberties, potentially making America crime-free while boosting quality of life.

Flock Safety is creating a dystopian mass-surveillance network, tracking everyone's vehicle, not just criminals', across the country. Sharing data with police and federal agencies is also a recipe for disaster, eroding privacy and civil liberties. Unlike targeted ALPR use, Flock's system retains data indefinitely, enabling unchecked monitoring. Communities must resist or regulate it to protect their freedoms.

Flock Safety is creating a dystopian mass-surveillance network, tracking everyone's vehicle, not just criminals', across the country. Sharing data with police and federal agencies is also a recipe for disaster, eroding privacy and civil liberties. Unlike targeted ALPR use, Flock's system retains data indefinitely, enabling unchecked monitoring. Communities must resist or regulate it to protect their freedoms.

AI Surveillance Startup Says it Can End Crime in America

Flock Safety's AI Surveillance NetworkStartup FacesSays Legalit ChallengesCan End Crime in America

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