{
  "id": 2440909,
  "title": "Flock Execs Are Taking Credit For Catching Bad Cops Now",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/flock-execs-are-taking-credit-for-catching-bad-cops-now",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-21T21:33:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/08/flock-camera-abuse-technology-license-plate-misconduct-sidhu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Flock Safety, a surveillance technology company, is facing challenges after 34 contracts were cancelled and public backlash ensued since the beginning of 2026. Dozens of police officers have been fired or charged with criminal offenses for allegedly misusing the technology, which tracks vehicle movements to potentially stalk individuals. Flock's proposed safety reforms, comprising voluntary security practices for police departments to adopt, were met with skepticism. At least 56 municipalities have canceled contracts or deactivated cameras since the start of the year, opting for rival surveillance technology providers like Axon or Motorola instead. A House candidate in Tennessee allegedly shot Flock cameras with a gun, while online critics posted satirical videos on how to disable the cameras. In response, Flock is employing a new PR strategy, with its leadership team publicly arguing that the company's ability to catch abusers is due to its superior auditing at scale – a claim they believe sets them apart from competitors. Flock's Chief Strategy Officer, Rahul Sidhu, stated that removing a police officer's access to Flock's database would be akin to revoking their firearm, emphasizing the potential dangers of misuse. Critics, such as the ACLU's senior policy counsel Chad Marlow, argue that Flock's focus on PR over addressing legitimate privacy concerns has led to public outrage. Marlow contends that Flock's own misuse of the technology, including cases of stalking partners and exes, has created the problem they now seek to \"watchdog\" as a solution.",
  "summary": "Flock Safety is having a hard month. The surveillance technology company, which has sold more than 120,000 automated license plate reader cameras to some 6,000 police departments across the US, is up to its neck in cancelled contracts—at least 34 since the start of 2026—and public backlash. Dozens of police officers have lost their jobs […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}