Flock Safety's '1 Million Crimes Solved' Claim Scrutinized for Methodological Flaws

Key points

• Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley stated in March 2026 that the company's technology helped clear over one million crimes in the US during 2025.
• CBS News found that Flock's own methodology does not support the 'solved crimes' claim, as the company later redefined the figure to include investigative leads and cross-jurisdictional assistance.
• Flock spokesman Paris Lewbel clarified that the 2025 estimate refers to approximately one million investigations and incidents, not cleared cases, and declined to provide underlying data.
• Criminologist Andrew Wheeler criticized the study for lacking established empirical methods to determine if cases would have been solved without Flock cameras, calling the million-crime figure a gross over-estimate.
• Flock's website previously displayed conflicting statistics, such as 2,000 crimes solved daily versus 2,800 weekly, which were removed after CBS News inquiries.
• The company's 2024 white paper, which claimed a 10% crime-solving rate, was criticized for non-random sampling and was later distanced from by its academic consultants.

Background

Flock Safety has faced growing scrutiny over the privacy implications and statistical reliability of its surveillance technology. Previous coverage in our archive does not directly address Flock Safety, but the broader context of technology companies making unverified claims about their impact, as seen in recent debates over AI research, highlights the importance of rigorous data validation in public discourse. Flock's claims have influenced local government decisions, such as Costa Mesa, California's decision to maintain its contract with the company despite renegotiating terms.

Why it matters

The reliability of Flock Safety's statistical claims affects public trust in surveillance technology and its adoption by law enforcement agencies. If the company's data is not methodologically sound, it could lead to misallocation of resources and potential privacy violations without adequate justification. The removal of conflicting statistics from Flock's website raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the private sector's engagement with public safety.

What to watch

Flock Safety may face further scrutiny from lawmakers and the public as the company's statistical claims are challenged. The company may need to provide more transparent and peer-reviewed data to support its claims. Local governments may reconsider their contracts with Flock if the technology's effectiveness is not substantiated by reliable evidence.