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Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley publicly defended his company's automated license-plate-reader and gunshot-detection surveillance technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, arguing its crime-fighting benefits outweigh abuse risks and that "we shouldn't pause progress." His comments came amid intensifying scrutiny from privacy advocates including the ACLU, after reports surfaced that Flock's microphones may do more than detect gunshots despite company claims, and that police departments have used its cameras for purposes beyond their stated scope. The backlash also includes a lawsuit filed by a Georgia man alleging Flock's automated license-plate readers enabled warrantless tracking and retaliation after he previously sued over police use of excessive force. Langley separately denied that Flock has lost any law-enforcement customers despite the controversy, as the company tries to contain reputational damage from growing public and legal pressure over surveillance misuse.