Flock is reducing its workforce by 18%, or about 270 employees, according to a Reuters report cited by TechCrunch. The departures are set to take effect at the end of October following a voluntary buyout program. Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel told TechCrunch the move is a voluntary separation program, not a layoff, and reflects the company's focus on building a sustainable business. TechCrunch notes that Wired reported last month that Flock had asked some employees to leave to avoid mandatory layoffs.
The staff cuts come as Flock faces growing pushback from communities and lawmakers over its privately run surveillance network. The company has installed more than 100,000 license plate-reading cameras across the U.S., which police and federal agents use to track vehicles. Dozens of officers have been arrested, fired, or forced to resign for abusing access to the system to track people without warrants or permission.
Some cities have removed Flock cameras after public outcry, though the company quickly replaced them, leading some residents to destroy the cameras. Flock has also faced criticism over cybersecurity gaps and accuracy problems, including misidentified plates that led to improper stops and arrests. Several law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, have allowed their Flock contracts to expire over privacy and civil liberties concerns. The TechCrunch report is the sole source in this article and presents no conflicting accounts.