Flock has opened its first office outside of Atlanta in Boston, marking a significant milestone for the company. The Seaport location will primarily concentrate on sales and engineering efforts.
Paige Todd, Flock’s cofounder and chief people officer, explained that the decision to establish a presence in Boston was straightforward. With the recent hiring of senior sales officers from the area, the demand for a local office was strongly advocated.
Boston’s rich pool of university graduates and its proximity to technology partners, particularly in artificial intelligence and engineering, were key factors in this expansion.
Flock’s entry into the Boston market comes as its rival, the taser manufacturer Axon, opened its office in the same city last year.
Casey Baines, spokesperson for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, expressed optimism about Flock’s expansion, stating, “It’s always a good sign to see a company is choosing to expand in Boston. Our talent and workforce is going to benefit.”
Founded in 2017 by Georgia Tech alumni Garrett Langley, Matt Feury, and Todd, Flock initially specialized in building surveillance cameras by hand. Over time, the company developed a platform that centralizes data from its cameras, facilitating easy sharing among users.
Donald Maye, head of operations at tech research firm IPVM, noted that Flock’s technology is modeled after social media platforms, which gain strength as more users join. Currently, over 5,000 law enforcement agencies utilize Flock’s platform.
“They aggressively invest in sales and marketing,” Maye remarked. “They used the engine of developing relationships with police departments and using those relationships to sell other police departments.”
Flock’s Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras are installed across various regions, enabling local law enforcement to monitor and share license plate data within a centralized framework. Agencies can choose to share or receive data with one another, even across state lines, effectively creating a vast network of license plate information.
The company claims that data collected through its system is automatically erased after a period of 30 days, though exceptions may occur if it is needed for ongoing investigations.
Todd mentioned that Flock offers flexibility, allowing law enforcement agencies to customize data retention settings. For instance, some agencies may opt to erase data after seven days instead of the standard 30.
Additionally, agencies can partake in a “transparency portal,” which provides the public with general information about how Flock devices are utilized, such as the number of cameras in operation and the frequency of vehicle logs each month.
Certain agencies also grant access to their audit logs, detailing when officers search for information within the Flock system.
Acknowledging the controversies surrounding their products, Todd affirmed that discussions regarding privacy are ongoing within the company.
“It is a daily conversation,” she stated. “How do we ensure privacy is protected while also giving law enforcement the tools they need to solve crime?”
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that the technology’s capacity to track individuals without regard for their criminality raises constitutional concerns. Without explicit state regulations, there is a potential risk for misuse of the centralized system.
Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty Program at ACLU Massachusetts, warned that law enforcement officers who access this information may misuse it for invasive actions, such as tracking individuals seeking abortion care or targeting undocumented individuals. In one reported case, an officer tracked an ex-wife using the system.
“Privacy is not controversial,” Crockford declared. “I have no problems with companies doing business in Boston. I just want to make sure that lawmaking and public policy is done in the interest of residents and the public.”
Beyond its cameras, Flock is diversifying its product offerings. The company has introduced gunshot sound detection sensors and, more recently, invested in a drone system to support car pursuits. Todd expressed a desire for collaboration with other tech companies in Boston as Flock continues to expand.
In the New England region, only Massachusetts and Rhode Island currently lack laws governing the use of license plate recognition systems. Earlier this year, state Representative Steven Owens filed the Drivers Privacy Act, aimed at limiting data retention periods and preventing the tracking of activities protected by the First Amendment.
image source from：bostonglobe
