Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley on License Plate Cameras, Crime Solving, and Privacy Debates

At TechCrunch Disrupt, Flock Safety founder and CEO Garrett Langley discusses the company's license plate recognition technology, its use by law enforcement across the U.S., and the privacy and surveillance debates it has sparked. The conversation covers how the system works, recent policy changes, and the company's expanding product line.

■ Origin and core product
- Founded in Atlanta nine years ago after a theft; initial product is license plate reader cameras
- Cameras check plates against warrants and alerts; default data retention is 7 days
- Defends crime-solving claims by comparing the system to past policing, not perfection

■ Criticism and policy changes
- Critics say it reads every plate regardless of criminal record
- August changes: default retention cut from 30 to 7 days, mandatory audits, case number required for searches
- Evidence Mode preserves data after a crime; national lookup is opt-in and state-law limited
- Addresses misinformation on facial recognition, Bluetooth, and lip reading

■ Other products and business
- Drones for emergency response, audio gunshot detection, and live video cameras like Pintail Zoom
- Customer mix: 60% law enforcement/cities, 40% businesses; discusses acquisition rumors and personal threats

This talk is relevant for viewers interested in technology policy, privacy, policing, and startup leadership. It provides an overview of Flock Safety's products, the scrutiny the company faces, and the tradeoffs between public safety and civil liberties.