Flock Teach Cops How to Surveil Protests with 'No Kings' Rally as Case Study

A webinar conducted by Flock Safety and obtained by 404 Media shows the company teaching police how to monitor protests and public events using its surveillance ecosystem. In the training session, Flock's director of market management, Caity Peak, demonstrated how officers could use FlockOS to oversee a "No Kings Protest" in Denver, combining automatic license plate readers (ALPR), drones, gunshot detectors, 911 data, and third-party cameras into one interface.

Peak explained that the system allows incident commanders to view the protest's movement in real time without deploying officers on the ground, stating that live video footage could monitor when "things go sideways" and when the environment "starts to shift." She noted this approach avoids having police physically present, which she said could "make it worse" or draw attention.

The webinar explicitly covers "established events" such as Fourth of July fireworks, parades, bike races, Mardi Gras, and protests, highlighting the routine nature of always-on surveillance in public spaces. Flock has publicly emphasized that its network helps solve violent crime, but the training materials reveal far more invasive capabilities, according to 404 Media.

Why This Matters

The surveillance of political protests raises First Amendment concerns about chilling free assembly and speech.
Flock's technology is widely deployed across thousands of U.S. police departments, meaning the methods taught in the webinar could be applied broadly.
The case underscores the gap between companies' public messaging (focused on crime-solving) and their actual product capabilities (mass monitoring of public events).

Background

Flock Safety is a major provider of automated license plate recognition cameras and surveillance software to law enforcement agencies across the United States. Its platform, FlockOS, integrates multiple data sources into a single dashboard for police real-time crime centers. The company has faced previous scrutiny over its potential for tracking individuals beyond vehicle movements, and its webinars have previously revealed capabilities not highlighted in marketing.

Key Perspectives

Flock Safety: The company frames its technology as a tool for public safety, helping solve violent crimes and locate missing persons. It has not publicly commented on this specific webinar, but its general messaging portrays ALPR as non-invasive and focused on investigative leads. Privacy and Civil Liberties Advocates: They argue that protest surveillance—especially without a warrant or specific suspicion—violates constitutional protections and can deter lawful dissent. The ability to track movement at protests creates a chilling effect on political activity. Law Enforcement: Some officers value the situational awareness that FlockOS provides, seeing it as a force multiplier that reduces risks to police and the public during large events.

What to Watch

Whether Flock responds to this report and modifies its training materials or public stance.
Potential legal challenges or legislative action regarding the use of surveillance technology at protests.
Further investigations into other Flock webinars that may reveal additional capabilities not publicly acknowledged.

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