Flock CEO says gunshot microphones only detect gunfire, website says more

In short: Flock Safety’s CEO said the company’s gunshot detection microphones detect only gunshots, but Flock’s own website describes wider sound detection.

What happened

Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley spoke onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco about the company’s “Gunshot Detection” microphones. He said the microphones detect “just gunshots” and nothing else.

TechCrunch noted that Flock’s website describes broader capabilities. The site says the system can also alert on things like “street takeovers,” severe car crashes, fireworks, and sideshows. An FAQ on the website also says the system can detect fireworks, sideshows, and “other disruptive community events,” and adds that the company’s detection library is “continually expanding.”

Flock later told TechCrunch that its technology is mainly used to detect gunfire, but it can also detect fireworks, sideshows, and potential car crashes. The spokesperson said Langley’s comments were meant to stress that the product is not designed to listen to conversations or analyze speech, and that it does not currently detect screaming or human distress.

The product has faced criticism from privacy groups in the past. Flock previously mentioned listening for “screaming,” then changed the wording and later said it removed “distress” detection after concerns.

Why it matters

Microphones placed around neighborhoods can feel like a safety tool to some people and like constant monitoring to others. The disagreement between what a CEO says on stage and what a website promises makes it harder for communities to understand what is being recorded and why (like buying a home alarm that is marketed to detect more than just break-ins).

Source: TechCrunch AI