# Flock boss admits surveillance firm took too long to act over police abuse

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/flock-boss-admits-surveillance-firm-took-too-long-to-act-over-police-abuse/
- Published: 2026-08-13T13:02:24+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-13T13:13:25+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Technology (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrv1rjwgl9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, Technology, World

## Key points

- Flock admits safeguards against police misuse came too late.
- Data retention will fall from 30 days to seven.
- Privacy concerns have prompted dozens of cities to leave Flock.

## Summary

Flock’s chief executive, Garrett Langley, has acknowledged that the US surveillance company was too slow to introduce safeguards against police misuse of its cameras, number-plate readers and drones. The admission follows cases in which officers reportedly used the technology to track romantic partners, stalk people and search for a woman who had an abortion, intensifying concerns about privacy and oversight.

Flock will reduce standard data retention from 30 days to seven and automatically flag unusual searches and uses. Langley now supports requiring police to have an active case number before searching Flock data, while maintaining that the technology helps tackle crime; at least 50 cities have cut ties with the company this year, though he said 16 had recently resumed services.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.