At TechCrunch Disrupt, Flock CEO Garrett Langley defended the company's gunshot-detection microphones, saying they detect "just gunshots." But Flock's own website describes a broader set of capabilities, including detecting street takeovers, severe crashes, fireworks, and sideshows.
A Flock spokesperson later clarified that the technology is "primarily used to detect gunfire" but is also capable of detecting fireworks, sideshows, and potential car crashes. The spokesperson said it is not designed to monitor conversations or analyze speech, and does not currently detect screaming or distress. Langley acknowledged that the company had prototyped a distress-detection feature after customer requests but pulled it after concerns.
The comments come as Flock faces mounting scrutiny from privacy advocates and the public. Texas and Florida have ended their relationships with the company, and Amazon's Ring has ended its partnership. Langley said the number of Flock's microphones is comparable to ShotSpotter's roughly 25,000.