Flock Safety Chief Pushes for National Balance Between Surveillance and Privacy as Public Opposition Grows

Flock Safety Chief Executive Officer Garrett Langley appeared on Fox News Saturday to discuss the mounting tension between public safety and privacy rights as opposition to the company’s surveillance technology intensifies across the country. Langley advocated for a middle-ground approach rather than outright bans, saying that policymakers must find ways to deploy the technology responsibly while addressing legitimate citizen concerns.

The company’s automated license plate readers, deployed by law enforcement agencies in dozens of states, have become a flashpoint for privacy activists. Communities have responded with direct action—from dismantling camera infrastructure to blocking lenses with protest signs—as concerns grow about tracking capabilities and potential government overreach.

Political opposition has accelerated on Capitol Hill, where Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation to prohibit the technology entirely and Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett has moved to eliminate federal funding for local deployments. These efforts signal deepening skepticism about surveillance expansion at the federal level.

Langley defended the platform’s crime-fighting utility, citing its role in over one million investigations and the location of more than 10,000 missing persons. He argued that regulatory frameworks rather than bans represent the appropriate path forward, calling for stricter oversight of law enforcement use and data retention limits.

The company has announced new accountability measures, including mandatory auditing requirements and tools designed to flag abnormal access patterns. Langley urged state regulators to impose stricter controls on law enforcement conduct rather than restricting the technology itself.

Vandalism and theft of camera equipment have been documented in New York, Minnesota, California, and Illinois, reflecting broader public frustration. One St. Petersburg, Florida resident told Fox News that surveillance exposure of personal movements and location patterns represents an unacceptable privacy invasion.