Flock Safety Tries to Shrink Workforce With Buyouts

Surveillance technology company Flock Safety has unveiled what it described as its "most generous" severance package to date for employees who wish to leave the company voluntarily, according to a report by Wired on Friday.

Flock reportedly anticipates that a substantial portion of its 1,500-person workforce will express interest in these buyouts and intends to grant them to the majority of those applicants. Allowing employees to depart on their own terms provides a way for the company to part ways with team members who may be demoralized by the ongoing scrutiny surrounding its license plate recognition technology.

Wired also reported that without these buyouts, the company would "almost certainly" be forced to implement staff layoffs. This pressure follows an August report by The Washington Post identifying 46 instances where police officers allegedly misused Flock's technology to stalk spouses, girlfriends, or ex-partners.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Consequently, both Florida and Texas announced plans to stop using the startup's technology. Additionally, an anti-surveillance advocacy group noted that 90 cities dropped Flock during the month of August alone, marking a fourfold increase compared to the previous month.