Garrett Langley, founder and CEO of US surveillance firm Flock, has conceded that the company was slow to respond to instances of police misusing its technology. In an interview with the BBC, Langley acknowledged that safeguards now being introduced should have been in place earlier.
The company, which operates cameras, licence plate readers and drones across the US, has faced growing criticism after reports that police used the technology to track romantic partners and stalk individuals. Flock has also been credited with helping locate stolen vehicles and missing persons.
Among the new measures, Flock is reducing the default data retention period from 30 days to seven days. The system will also automatically flag abnormal searches and usage patterns.
Langley said he initially believed it was not his role as a private company CEO to decide how long data should be kept. However, he has since changed his view, agreeing with civil liberties groups that police should be required to have an active case number before searching Flock's data. "They're right. I think it should be required," he said.
The company has faced a backlash, with at least 50 cities severing ties with Flock this year. Langley noted that 16 of those cities have returned in the past three months, and that the company is gaining new customers at a ratio of roughly seven to one compared with losses.
Langley acknowledged that misuse by law enforcement has occurred, citing cases of wrongful arrest linked to bad data and officers failing to follow rules. He described abusive officers as "horrible" and said they should face consequences beyond dismissal. "If anyone is going to be the one that spearheads getting rid of abusive cops? Sign me up," he said.
The CEO also addressed public concerns about privacy, noting that Flock's visible cameras make the company an easy target for frustration over surveillance. He mentioned a woman in Cleveland who opposed Flock, saying she viewed it as a tool for police to "abuse their power."
Flock has introduced an audit feature that logs searches and flags unusual behaviour. Initially optional, the feature is now standard after widespread misuse was detected.
Langley said he now embraces the responsibility of setting stronger standards, responding to pressure from employees and communities who expect companies like Flock to take a firmer stance.
Source: BBC News
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