Flock CEO says its microphones detect 'just gunshots' — its website says otherwise
The CEO of US surveillance company Flock told TechCrunch Disrupt that its microphones detect only gunshots. The company's website and a spokesperson say the system also recognizes fireworks, car crashes and other sounds.
Garrett Langley, chief executive of Flock, a US company that sells surveillance systems including license plate reading cameras, said at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference that the company's gunshot-detection microphones pick up "just gunshots." Flock's own website describes broader capabilities, raising questions about what sounds the system actually registers.
What the website says
The product, called Gunshot Detection, listens for gunfire and other ambient audio in nearby neighborhoods to give "earlier awareness" of possible public safety events. The website says the system can pinpoint gunfire instantly, and also catch street takeovers early and identify severe crashes. It also lists alerts for car crashes, fireworks and sideshows. An FAQ section says the company's "detection library" is continually expanding.
Earlier criticism
The feature, announced last year, drew immediate pushback. Flock initially said the system would listen for "screaming." Privacy groups condemned the idea of listening for human voices, and the company changed its website wording to "sounds of human distress." Flock later removed the distress-detection capability from customers who had tried it.
What was said onstage
Interviewed by TechCrunch editor-in-chief Connie Loizos, Langley said most people do not call 911 when they hear a gunshot, which is why the product was built. Some customers, such as those with parking lots, asked for alerts about abductions or harm, he said. The company prototyped this with a couple of customers, but concerns followed, so it decided the system would respond to gunshots only. Asked about the contradiction with marketing materials, he replied, "It's just gunshots."
Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel told TechCrunch the technology is primarily used to detect gunfire but can also detect fireworks, sideshows and potential car crashes. He stressed that it is not designed to monitor conversations or analyze speech and does not currently detect screaming or distress.
Wider context
Langley said Flock's microphone count is comparable to that of competitor ShotSpotter, which had about 25,000 microphones as of 2024, according to Wired. The company faces growing scrutiny from privacy advocates, including the ACLU. Texas and Florida have moved to end their relationships with Flock, and Amazon's Ring has ended its partnership. Protesters gathered outside the San Francisco venue as Langley spoke.
