Flock CEO Claims Microphones Detect “Just Gunshots,” but the Company Website Says Otherwise
Flock CEO Garrett Langley said the company’s gunshot-detection microphones listen for “just gunshots.” But Flock’s website says its systems can also detect fireworks, sideshows, car crashes, and other disruptive events.
Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, Langley defended Flock’s audio-detection product, which monitors sounds in neighborhoods to alert customers to possible public-safety incidents. The company says the technology can identify gunfire, detect street takeovers, and flag serious crashes.
Flock introduced the feature last year, initially saying it could listen for “screaming.” Privacy advocates objected to the collection of human voices, and the company changed its wording to “sounds of human distress.” Flock later said it had removed distress detection from the system available to customers who tested it.
Langley said the company had developed that capability after a few customers asked whether microphones in places such as parking lots could alert them if someone was being harmed. He said Flock tested the idea with a small number of customers, but faced concerns and decided the product would focus on gunshots.
When asked about the website’s descriptions of detecting other sounds, Langley reiterated: “It’s just gunshots.”
A Flock spokesperson later said the technology is primarily used to detect gunfire, but can also identify fireworks, sideshows, and potential car crashes. The spokesperson added that it is not designed to monitor conversations or analyze speech, and does not currently detect screaming or distress.
The company’s FAQ also says its detection library is expanding to include sounds relevant to customers’ needs.
Flock’s audio technology is under growing scrutiny from privacy advocates and the public amid broader concern about surveillance. Texas and Florida have moved to end their relationships with Flock, and Amazon’s Ring ended its partnership with the company.
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