Flock Safety

Flock Safety is an Atlanta-based company that designs, manufactures, and operates an integrated public safety platform combining automated license plate recognition cameras, video surveillance, gunshot detection, and drone technology. Founded in 2017 by three Georgia Tech alumni, the company grew from a side project assembled on a dining room table into a surveillance network spanning over 5,000 communities across 49 states. Its solar-powered, cellular-connected cameras perform more than 20 billion vehicle scans each month, and the company reports that its technology aids in 10% of all successful crime investigations in the United States.

The company markets its systems not only to police departments but also to homeowner associations, businesses, schools, and community organizations, a strategy that has driven rapid adoption and positioned Flock as a disruptor in the public safety technology market. Its Vehicle Fingerprint machine learning system captures vehicle characteristics beyond license plates, and the Flock OS platform enables data sharing across jurisdictions. In 2024, the company achieved $300 million in annual recurring revenue, representing 70% year-over-year growth.

Flock Safety has attracted substantial investment, with over $1 billion raised from firms including Andreessen Horowitz, Tiger Global, and Matrix Partners. The company's valuation rose from $3.5 billion in 2022 to $8.4 billion by early 2026. Analysts expect an initial public offering within the next few years. However, the company's widespread surveillance network has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates and civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU, who raise concerns about mass surveillance, data retention, and potential misuse. Incidents such as a Texas police officer using Flock's database to track a person who allegedly had an abortion have intensified scrutiny, making the company a focal point in debates over the balance between public safety and privacy. [edit]