Flock Is Quietly Selling Powerful Drones That Scan License Plates From the Sky
It's the company's "fastest growing business unit." The post Flock Is Quietly Selling Powerful Drones That Scan License Plates From the Sky appeared first on Futurism .
Flock Safety finds itself entangled in allegations of facilitating a dystopian surveillance state. The company has faced mounting pressure, with Americans vandalizing its license plate-reading cameras and losing contracts with cities across the nation. In an effort to address privacy concerns, Flock has introduced "Drone as First Responder" (DFR) technology, consisting of drones capable of capturing license plate numbers from up to 2,000 feet away.
During a podcast, Flock's CEO, Garrett Langley, revealed that the drones are the fastest-growing aspect of the company. They can swiftly respond to 911 calls, outpacing the time it would take for a human to arrive on the scene. Langley cited a case where a woman dialed 911, reporting a man with a lighter, not a gun, and explained how the drones could potentially save lives.
The DFR program has already secured 200 customers, including police departments and private entities. However, concerns remain high, with the Electronic Frontier Foundation warning of the potential for drones to capture footage of private spaces without awareness. Over 1,000 public safety agencies have obtained FAA waivers, enabling automated drone operations.
Written by urgent.news from Futurism's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
