From TechCrunch · Anthony Ha · · 1m 30s
Flock offers buyouts as surveillance tech backlash deepens
The license plate recognition company is shrinking its workforce voluntarily to escape the fallout from police misuse scandals.
In brief
The license plate recognition company is shrinking its workforce voluntarily to escape the fallout from police misuse scandals. Flock is using generous severance packages to downsize rather than lay off staff, a sign the company is struggling with internal morale after widespread adoption of its technology by police…
Flock offers generous buyouts
The surveillance tech company unveiled a voluntary severance package on Friday, expecting a significant portion of its 1,500-person workforce to take it. The company said it will grant buyouts to most employees who are interested.
Police misused license plate tech
The Washington Post identified 46 cases where officers allegedly misused Flock's technology, including stalking their wives, girlfriends, or exes. The revelations sparked widespread backlash against the company.
Cities and states abandon Flock
Florida and Texas both said they will stop using Flock's technology. An anti-surveillance group identified 90 cities that dropped Flock in August alone, a fourfold increase from the previous month.
Morale crisis inside Flock
CEO Garrett Langley told the All-In podcast that the biggest damage from the backlash has been to internal morale. The buyouts let the company avoid layoffs while shedding demoralized staff.
“the "biggest damage" caused by the backlash has been to "internal morale."”
Buyouts beat forced layoffs
By offering voluntary severance, Flock avoids the PR damage of mass layoffs while shrinking its workforce. Without the buyouts, the company would almost certainly need to lay off staff.
The takeaway
Flock is using generous severance packages to downsize rather than lay off staff, a sign the company is struggling with internal morale after widespread adoption of its technology by police for personal stalking.
