Activists Protest Flock Safety at TechCrunch Disrupt
Demonstrators gathered outside the Moscone Center to oppose the company's automated license plate reader technology.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Protesters rallied outside the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, targeting Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley. The group demanded that police departments stop using the company's automated license plate reader technology.
Why it matters
Activists are raising concerns over privacy and the potential for misuse of surveillance tools. Their demonstration highlights public friction regarding the role of private tech companies in law enforcement operations.
The rally involved nine distinct organizing groups, following a history of vehicle license plate photo authorization in 50 court cases over the past 25 years. The technology uses automated license plate readers marketed for police use.
The players
Garrett Langley
He is the CEO of Flock Safety who spoke at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference.
Flock Safety
This company provides automated license plate reader technology used by law enforcement agencies.
Ashley Ortiz
She served as an organizer for the rally that took place outside the conference.
The details
Activists dressed in Handmaid's Tale costumes and wore cardboard cameras outside the venue while the CEO spoke inside. Organizers including the Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America, the Wolves, and the Raging Grannies coordinated the event to voice opposition to police surveillance tools.
Timeline
In April 2026, the San Jose Police Department terminated an officer for misusing the network to track a domestic violence victim.
The protest occurred on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The Tech Race
The demonstration marks a direct pushback against the rapid deployment of private surveillance tech into public safety systems. It echoes concerns raised by the San Jose Police Department's 2026 termination of an officer for license plate reader misuse, signaling growing public scrutiny of vendor-supplied police tools.
Residents may notice increased security presence or advocacy activity near major tech conferences in the city. The concerns raised by protesters regarding the use of tracking software may influence future local policy discussions regarding police data practices.
The takeaway
The protest highlights the ongoing tension between private surveillance innovations and civil liberties. Readers interested in digital privacy should monitor how local police departments balance the deployment of new tech with accountability measures.
Further reading
For additional context on the security industry, explore the Cybersecurity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailycallernewsfoundation.
Live Poll
Do you believe automated license plate readers used by police make your community safer?
