Flock Safety is part of a long tradition of using technology to enhance public safety. License plate readers have been around for decades, but Flock’s innovation is in combining AI, cloud data, and a networked approach. The company’s rapid growth since 2017 shows how surveillance tech has moved from niche law enforcement tools to widespread community infrastructure. This trend echoes past shifts when new technologies like CCTV or 911 emergency systems changed how societies respond to crime. Understanding this history helps contextualize current debates about surveillance and civil liberties.