Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley defended the company’s automated license plate reader cameras while acknowledging growing concerns about privacy and potential government surveillance.

Flock cameras are used by law enforcement across the United States to collect vehicle information that can assist criminal investigations, but some residents have protested, vandalized cameras or called for the technology to be banned.

Langley argued that the debate should focus on balancing public safety with privacy rather than choosing one over the other.

He said Flock technology has helped with more than a million investigations and located over 10,000 missing people, while the company recommends limits such as seven-day data retention, Fox News has reported.

Langley called for stronger regulation, auditing and accountability for law enforcement agencies that misuse the technology instead of banning the cameras altogether.