US Firm Flock Safety Reportedly Plans to Cut 18% of Staff Amid Public Backlash

Flock Safety, a US company that sells AI-powered license plate reading cameras to police departments and cities, is planning to lay off 18 percent of its workforce, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the decision. The cuts are expected to affect roughly 270 current employees and take effect at the end of October. The company currently employs about 1,500 people.

Earlier buyout program

Three weeks ago, WIRED reported that Flock had launched an employee buyout program with generous severance packages, as growing numbers of staff became unhappy amid mounting opposition from outside the company. It is unclear how many of the employees affected by the upcoming layoffs are leaving voluntarily under that program.

Opposition across the US

Flock cameras have spread widely across the country, accompanied by controversy and public anger. The criticism spans the political spectrum. Florida has banned the company from its highways, and Governor Ron DeSantis said he does not want the state to become a surveillance state. In Texas, the company was cut off from state funding, while Governor Greg Abbott courts voters ahead of November's midterm elections. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, has criticized Flock as a law enforcement tool and said he would welcome legislation banning the cameras. The Los Angeles Police Department declined to renew its contract with the company.

Commentators ranging from Hasan Piker to Tucker Carlson have also spoken out against the cameras. Videos of people dismantling or stealing Flock cameras have gone viral on social media, drawing considerable support from commenters.