Flock Safety Lays Off 18 Percent of Workforce

Flock Safety plans to lay off approximately 270 employees, representing about 18 percent of its workforce. The job cuts, which are expected to take effect by the end of October, follow a voluntary buyout program the company announced in September.

The Atlanta-based AI surveillance startup faces increasing pressure from regulators, lawmakers, and privacy advocates over its network of 120,000 license-plate readers deployed across 49 states. Recent setbacks include a ban by the government of Florida on automated license plate readers on state highways and a privacy lawsuit in Virginia alleging warrantless surveillance.

External pressure has also reached the company's corporate partners. Investors at Home Depot have demanded reviews of surveillance partnerships following reports that data from Flock Safety was used in immigration enforcement. These challenges persist despite the company reaching a $7.5 billion valuation after a $275 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz in March.