The Flock backlash is coming for retail
Retailers like Ulta Beauty and Lowe's are facing public backlash for their partnerships with Flock Safety, a surveillance technology company. Critics argue that the company's automated license plate readers pose privacy risks, particularly for women, leading some cities to cancel their contracts.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing tension between corporate security measures and public concerns over privacy and surveillance in the retail sector.
Retail giants like Ulta Beauty and Lowe's are being called on to end their contracts with Flock Safety. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images Flock Safety has seen a nationwide backlash against its surveillance system technology. In response, some city governments have canceled their contracts with Flock. Consumers are now also calling out companies like Ulta and Lowe's, which have Flock contracts. City governments have felt the heat to drop their contracts with Flock Safety . Now, retail giants are feeling it too. As the backlash against Flock's security products continues, critics are targeting retail stores that have known partnerships with the company. "There is simply no need for Ulta Beauty to be one of Flock's biggest commercial customers," Rachel LaPointe, a content creator and Substack writer, said in a video that had 732,000 views across her TikTok and Instagram as of Friday.
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