Anti-Flock Surveillance Movement Labeled as Chinese Propaganda in TV Reports

TV Reports Allege Foreign Influence

Over the weekend, more than a dozen local TV news stations broadcast a video report titled "Far-left network behind 'No Kings' protests targeting AI data centers, Flock cams." The report characterized opponents of Flock surveillance technology as well-funded radical leftists spreading propaganda on behalf of China and wealthy billionaires. This framing suggests a coordinated, external effort rather than a grassroots movement.

Flock's History of Discrediting Critics

This strategy of labeling opponents as radical or foreign-influenced is not new. Flock CEO Garrett Langley previously told Forbes that DeFlock, an open-source map of ALPR cameras, was a "terroristic organization." In December, emails revealed Langley informed a police chief that Flock and its partners were under "coordinated attack" from activist groups aiming to defund the police and weaken public safety.

Renewed Efforts by Flock Defenders

Despite Langley's apology for his earlier remarks, elements within conservative media, several think tanks, a former head of the National Security Agency, and Flock's investors are now employing a similar playbook. They continue to suggest that individuals opposing Flock and journalists reporting on its use are part of a coordinated, externally funded effort, rather than citizens concerned about mass surveillance.