Flock is pulling its plan to use its microphone network to monitor for signs of 'human distress' but privacy concerns remain

Date:
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:40:19 +0000

Description:
Flock says it's abandoning the idea of using its acoustic detection network
to listen out for signs of screaming and disturbance.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Flock is abandoning plans for a 'human distress detection' feature It had previously been rolled out as a small trial Consumer groups say it's evidence of 'mission creep' from the company It's fair to say Flock isn't the most popular tech company at the moment, with major consumer concerns around surveillance and privacy in regards to its widespread license plate cameras but it has at least now pulled one of its most contentious features.

That feature is 'human distress detection', which was recently trialed on a small scale, and used Flock's network of urban acoustic detectors to listen out for sounds of human screaming and panic. If those sounds were detected, then the police would be alerted, potentially giving law enforcement a head start in responding to an incident. After "careful consideration and
community consultation", Flock says it's now removing the human detection element. The acoustic detectors remain in place, and continue to listen out for sounds including gunshots and vehicle crashes but the 'human distress' element experiment is over, and won't be rolled out more widely. Latest
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In a detailed defense of its technology, Flock says "the system cannot understand speech, analyze language, or identify voices". Audio isn't
recorded by default, but a rolling five-second window is continually processed. If a matching event is detected, then the clip is processed, encrypted, and stored. A 'victory' for campaigners One of Flock's license plate readers (Image credit: Flock) Consumer rights and privacy groups are welcoming the decision. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has declared the move a "victory" for campaigners, though the organization still has many concerns around the existing gunshot and collision technology the microphones are still set up for. You may like LAPD cites privacy concerns as it drops Flock surveillance cameras California city approves the use of Flock drones
as first responders This free tool is helping drivers avoid automatic license plate readers

"Gunshot-detecting microphones eventually being used to listen for screaming is exactly the type of mission creep that we've seen happen with other pieces of surveillance technology, including Flock's license plate readers," says Matthew Guariglia, a senior policy analyst at the EFF.

The reaction online to the feature being pulled is less triumphant most commentators simply don't believe that Flock is going to limit these acoustic detectors in the ways it says it will. "I don't believe that for a second,"
is a Reddit response typical of the general sentiment, amid ongoing privacy concerns. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

What doesn't help Flock's reputation is that its representatives have apparently lied before about what its devices can do, and what data is being collected making it difficult for citizens to fully trust its stances on privacy, even if this latest move does seem like a win. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/computing-security/flock-is-pulling-its-pl an-to-use-its-microphone-network-to-monitor-for-signs-of-human-distress-but-pr ivacy-concerns-remain


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