Speaking onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt, the co-founder of the surveillance company defended Flock's audio-collection product called Gunshot Detection, which listens for gunshots and other ambient audio across nearby neighborhoods to provide 'earlier awareness' to potential public safety events. Flock's website says that the company's audio systems can pinpoint gunfire instantly, while also being able to 'detect street takeovers early to stop chaos before it escalates,' and 'identify severe crashes in real time so help arrives faster.' It also says they can 'expand awareness beyond gunfire with alerts for car crashes, fireworks, and sideshows.' The company's Gunshot Detection feature, announced last year, faced immediate pushback. In announcing the feature, Flock said the technology would listen out for sounds of 'screaming.' Privacy groups condemned the company for listening for human voices, prompting the company to amend its website to instead say 'sounds of human distress.' Flock...
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