Flock Safety Expands Surveillance Network Amid Legal Battles

Flock Safety is expanding its network of more than 80,000 license plate reader cameras across the United States. The AI surveillance startup, valued at $7.5 billion, reported estimated 2024 sales of $300 million and currently serves 5,000 law enforcement agencies and 1,000 corporate clients.

CEO Garrett Langley intends to eliminate nearly all crime in the U.S. within ten years. To achieve this, the company is deploying fixed cameras and developing American-made drones to compete with the market dominance of DJI.

The company faces significant operational and legal challenges. Axon Enterprise recently terminated a partnership with Flock Safety to launch its own competing cameras, with CEO Rick Smith Jr. citing issues of overcharging and customer lock-in. Additionally, Flock Safety is navigating regulatory scrutiny in Illinois and lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions regarding permitting failures and privacy concerns raised by advocates.