The short version404 Media reported on October 26, 2026 that Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley told police chiefs at a private police conference that anti-Flock protests around the country are not real, according to leaked audio. He said "Social media chatter on Flock is down about 95 percent from July," said his wife advised him to never apologize, said he would prefer to never do press interviews again, and claimed without evidence that the opposition is driven mostly by Russian bots. 404 Media reports dozens of cities have canceled Flock contracts over the last 18 months.
Flock Safety's cameras have become a fight in city council meetings across the US. Its CEO has a theory about the people doing the fighting: they aren't real.
What happened
Garrett Langley, CEO of automatic license plate reader company Flock, "told an audience of police chiefs at a private police conference Sunday that anti-Flock protests around the country are not real, according to leaked audio obtained by 404 Media," 404 Media reported on October 26. "It's anonymous bots, and so it is not real," Langley said, per the outlet.
The details
The numbers he gave. "Social media chatter on Flock is down about 95 percent from July," Langley said, according to 404 Media.
The bots claim. He "claimed without evidence that the social media opposition to Flock is driven mostly by Russian bots," 404 Media reports.
On apologizing and the press. Langley also said his wife advised him to never apologize, and that he would prefer to never do interviews with the press again.
The context. 404 Media reports dozens of cities have canceled contracts with Flock over the last 18 months. Flock did not respond to 404 Media's request for comment.
Why brands should care
Every business gets criticism it thinks is unfair. The temptation is to decide it's fake: competitors, trolls, bots. Sometimes some of it is. But calling your critics fake, especially in a room you assume is private, tells customers you aren't listening. And private rooms leak. Cities are the customers here, and they are the ones canceling.
What to do
Our suggestions:
- Answer the real complaint. Find the most common concern in your reviews or comments and respond to that specifically.
- Don't guess at motives. Even if you suspect fake reviews, report them through the platform and reply to the substance publicly.
- Assume it's on the record. Anything said at a conference, in a team chat or on a sales call can end up quoted.
- Apologize when it's earned. A clear, specific apology usually ends a story faster than a defense.
Sources
- 404 Media: In leaked audio, Flock CEO tells cops backlash to the company isn't real (Oct 26, 2026)
- Flock Safety press center (media kit photos)
FAQ
What did Flock's CEO say about the backlash?
According to leaked audio obtained by 404 Media, Garrett Langley told police chiefs that anti-Flock protests are not real, saying: "It's anonymous bots, and so it is not real."
Who is Garrett Langley?
He is the CEO of Flock Safety, which makes automatic license plate reader cameras used by police departments.
Has Flock responded?
404 Media reports Flock did not respond to its request for comment.
