Flock Safety's Opaque Supply Chain Raises Security Concerns
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Once marketed as 'Made in the USA,' the license plate reader startup now obscures its hardware origins as import records reveal ties to overseas manufacturers.
Flock Safety, a provider of license plate readers, has ceased specifying the origin of its cameras in recent marketing materials, according to reporting from WIRED. While CEO Garrett Langley previously claimed the devices were assembled in Atlanta, Georgia, and touted them as "made in the USA" in 2019 and 2020, current documentation no longer makes these claims.
Import records analyzed by ImportGenius indicate that Flock has increasingly sourced "commodity" cameras and radar systems from Primax Electronics in Thailand. Primax is a Taiwan-based company with manufacturing plants in China and Thailand. Lynn Hughes, an analyst at ImportGenius, noted that while some shipments are components, Primax also manufactures complete security camera solutions.
Flock spokesperson Paris Lewbel told WIRED that all company products are compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act, a law prohibiting government contractors from using hardware from specific Chinese tech firms due to security risks.
Critics argue this lack of transparency is a systemic vulnerability. Cris van Pelt, creator of the advocacy project Have I Been Flocked, told WIRED that the absence of oversight regarding the supply chain means that if any part of the process is compromised, it would go undetected. Former employees cited by WIRED also described a "janky" distribution system where cameras were stored in self-storage units across the U.S. before installation, potentially increasing the risk of tampering.