Suffolk County delays contract with Flock, extends deal with ShotSpotter
Flock was expected to take over the services currently provided by ShotSpotter.
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Suffolk County is delaying its $4 million contract with Flock Safety, a controversial surveillance company that’s come under fire in recent months, News 12 has learned.
Flock was expected to take over the services currently provided by ShotSpotter.
However, county officials say ShotSpotter will remain as the police department’s gunshot detection technology.
ShotSpotter is operated by a California-based company called SoundThinking.
A spokesperson for the Suffolk Police Department wrote, “To ensure continuous public safety and avoid a lapse in coverage, the department sought to amend its contract with SoundThinking due to unforeseen circumstances surrounding the acquisition and implementation of a new system. Extending services with SoundThinking will prevent any operational disruption and ensure the department can continue to meet its public safety needs.”
Flock Safety operates more than 100,000 AI-powered automated license plate readers throughout the country.
The technology has been criticized because of privacy concerns.
Flock Safety has said its technology has safeguards against abuse and is used to fight crime and find missing people.
