Flock Safety plans to cut roughly 18% of its workforce, about 270 jobs, according to insiders who asked to stay anonymous. The layoffs follow a voluntary buyout program and will take effect at the end of the month.
The startup, which employs about 1,500 people, launched the separation program in September, inviting staff to apply if they wanted to leave. Sources said the company has not publicly announced the cuts yet.
Regulators, lawmakers and privacy groups have intensified scrutiny of the firm’s AI-powered cameras, even as venture capital interest remains strong. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 38% of Americans support the cameras, while 47% oppose them. The poll, conducted by Reuters in partnership with Ipsos, measured public sentiment nationwide.
Its network spans 49 states with around 120,000 cameras that automatically read license plates and record passing vehicles.
Founded in 2017 and based in Atlanta, the firm has secured more than $950 million from investors.
In March, a $275 million round led by Andreessen Horowitz pushed the valuation to $7.5 billion. The capital has funded a new U.S. manufacturing plant and a planned entry into drone products.
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Customers include more than 4,800 law-enforcement agencies and nearly 1,000 businesses.
Public backlash grew after Florida banned automated license-plate readers on state highways in September, citing privacy risks linked to the cameras.
Investors in Home Depot have recently called for a review of the retailer’s ties to surveillance vendors after reports that the firm’s data was used in immigration enforcement.
The startup also faces a privacy lawsuit in Virginia, alleging that its widespread deployment amounts to warrantless surveillance.
With the upcoming midterm elections, the cameras and associated AI data centers have become a flashpoint, as candidates increasingly link opponents to the technology.
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