Flock Caught in a Lie

Hi neighbors,

Last night, a bombshell investigation from 9News Denver confirmed a critical concern about Flock Safety’s surveillance network: the company has been misleading the public about federal access to its data.

For months, Flock executives and their CEO, Garrett Langley, have publicly insisted they have no federal contracts and don't provide federal immigration agencies with access to local license plate data. They explained any data sharing as voluntary “one to one agreements” initiated by local police.

On July 30, 2025, in an interview with 9News Denver, when asked if Flock had any federal contracts, Langley responded, "We don't."

That was a lie.

Here’s what Flock now admits:

This isn't a technical mistake; it's a profound betrayal of trust.

Denver City Councilmember Sarah Parady put it plainly:

Flock's careful language isn't just a PR stunt; it's a legal strategy. The company has repeatedly used technicalities to avoid accountability and mislead the public. They can claim they have no "contracts" with federal agencies because they use a "pilot program" instead. They can say federal agents don't have "direct access" because the system requires a local police department to "opt-in." This is a distinction without a difference. The backdoor has always been there, and Flock built it while lying about it.

This deliberate deception directly undermines the spirit of our own contract. The city’s official policy states that our data "shall not be used for the purpose of immigration enforcement." Yet, our agreement with Flock relies on a company that has proven it cannot be trusted to uphold that value.

In fact, Section 5.3 of our contract gives Flock broad authority to share the data it collects, regardless of our local policies. This clause allows Flock to disclose footage to federal authorities if it is "legally required to do so" or if the company has a "good faith belief" that it is "reasonably necessary to comply with a legal process."

This is a key vulnerability. Flock can truthfully tell the public it doesn't share data with federal immigration agencies, but Section 5.3 gives them the legal cover to do so if a federal agency sends a request. The company has designed its system and its contracts to provide itself with an "out," allowing it to legally act against the wishes of the very communities that hired it. This isn't a trustworthy partnership—it's a one-sided legal arrangement that puts our city at risk.

Our city council voted to approve this contract in June. The cameras haven't been installed yet, but we've already hitched our wagon to a company caught misleading local governments across the country on the exact issue many of us raised. Flock has shown it is more interested in building a pervasive surveillance network than in honoring community values.

Please take 10 minutes to read the entire investigation from 9News Denver. It's an eye-opening report that details the company's deceit: Flock admits federal agents access local police data | 9news.com. You can also watch it below.

I’m glad to hear that the city is working on an oversight structure and potentially updating its internal policies and MOUs with data-sharing partners. However, as every day passes and every new revelation about this deceptive company comes to light, it is hard to be optimistic. The issue is not a lack of oversight; the issue is the system and the company itself. No amount of good intentions or policy updates can truly fix a problem rooted in a technology designed for mass surveillance and a company that has proven it cannot be trusted to operate honestly.

Resisting,

Dustin