AI Surveillance Firm Flock Safety to Cut 18% of Workforce

United States, October 2026: Flock Safety, a company that sells AI-powered surveillance cameras and automated licence-plate recognition (ALPR) systems, plans to cut about 18% of its workforce, roughly 270 positions, according to Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter.

Flock sells camera networks to police departments, cities, neighbourhood associations and businesses. Its cameras automatically read number plates and vehicle features, and the data can be searched to help investigate crimes such as car theft or missing persons cases.

Flock has faced growing criticism from civil liberties groups and some local governments, which argue that:

Some cities have cancelled or paused contracts after public pushback.

The layoffs show that even well-funded AI startups face pressure when public trust and regulation turn against their products. The debate over surveillance technology is likely to intensify as AI makes it easier to analyse video at scale.

Indian cities are also expanding CCTV and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) systems for traffic enforcement and policing. India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 sets rules for personal data. Critics argue that government exemptions and limited oversight of surveillance need closer attention.