Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels

The skies are opening up to a new form of private security: drones. Flock Safety, a company previously known for its license plate reading cameras, is now offering autonomous drone systems to private businesses. These drones, equipped with cameras, can be deployed from on-site docking stations to surveil properties, track suspected shoplifters and their vehicles, and transmit real-time video to security teams and potentially even law enforcement.

While Flock Safety is engaging with major retailers, tomato processor Morning Star is currently its only named customer. The company envisions applications for these drone systems across various sectors, including hospital campuses, warehouses, and oil and gas facilities.

This expansion into private sector surveillance has ignited privacy concerns. The ACLU warns that the widespread adoption of these drones could erode Fourth Amendment protections and create opportunities for increased government access to private data. Rebecca Williams from the ACLU described Flock as the ‘Meta of surveillance technology,’ emphasizing the potential for vast data collection and monetization. The debate echoes similar concerns surrounding the increasing use of drones by police departments as first responders, raising questions about overpolicing and the balance between security and individual liberties.