The city has decided to renew the contract…
Employees at surveillance technology company Flock Safety allegedly accessed live camera feeds from a children’s gymnastics room and other sensitive locations while demonstrating the company’s products to prospective law enforcement customers, according to records obtained through a public records request.
The allegations center on Dunwoody, Georgia, where Flock employees reportedly viewed live feeds from cameras installed at a children’s gymnastics facility, a playground, a school, a Jewish community center, and other locations as part of sales demonstrations.
Records reveal access to sensitive locations
The controversy surfaced after Dunwoody resident Jason Hunyar obtained Flock access logs through a public records request.
According to those records, company employees accessed cameras in locations where children and families were present, including a gymnastics room at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. The logs indicate the camera access occurred as part of demonstrations for police departments considering Flock’s surveillance technology.
Flock disputes characterization
Flock Safety has not disputed that employees accessed the cameras but says the demonstrations were conducted with the city’s authorization.
In a statement, the company said Dunwoody participates in its demonstration partner program, allowing select employees to showcase new products and features with customer permission. Flock also said certain engineers can access customer systems to troubleshoot technical issues when authorized.
The company rejected claims that employees were improperly “watching children,” arguing the demonstrations were part of an approved partnership with the city.
Privacy concerns grow
The revelations have intensified concerns over how surveillance technology vendors access customer camera networks and whether adequate safeguards exist when those cameras are installed in sensitive locations.
Critics argue that even if the access was contractually authorized, parents and facility users were unlikely to know their activities could be viewed during corporate sales presentations. The incident has renewed broader debates over transparency, privacy, and oversight as cities increasingly adopt AI-powered surveillance systems.
City renews contract
Despite the controversy, Dunwoody renewed its relationship with Flock Safety after learning about the camera access.
The decision has drawn criticism from privacy advocates, who say the incident highlights the need for stricter rules governing how surveillance vendors use customer data and camera feeds beyond their intended public safety purposes.
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