In Leaked Audio, Flock CEO Tells Cops Backlash to the Company Isn't Real

Leaked audio from a private police conference captures Flock CEO Garrett Langley dismissing public opposition to his company as largely manufactured. He claimed social-media criticism was driven by anonymous Russian bots, citing an alleged overnight drop in posts after Ukraine attacked a Russian data center, and argued that recurring protesters with similar signs were not acting organically. He offered no evidence for these claims, which echo other unsupported accusations that foreign actors are organizing resistance to Flock. Langley also said his wife had advised him never to apologize, despite acknowledging mistakes, and told police officials he would prefer not to give further media interviews.

Flock’s license-plate cameras record vehicle details and movements, and its roughly 80,000-camera national network lets participating police agencies search data across jurisdictions without a warrant. The company has faced scrutiny over police misuse, immigration enforcement, and searches tied to a Texas woman who had an abortion; dozens of cities have canceled contracts. Investigations and public campaigns have helped fuel protests, camera vandalism, proposed legislation, and broader debate about privacy and oversight. Langley described public controversy as a phase the industry will eventually move past, while the conference session was billed as addressing privacy, transparency, governance, and community trust. The contrast between that stated agenda and his dismissal of critics underscores the dispute over whether Flock is responding to legitimate concerns or treating opposition as illegitimate.