Larsen Faces Backlash Over Surveillance Funding Amid Flock Camera Criticism

Crypto billionaire and Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen faced protest outside his home in San Francisco on August 21. The demonstration was part of a national campaign by the Sunrise Movement against Flock cameras, which are used for surveillance. Larsen's foundation committed $7.25 million to relocate and upgrade the police department's Real-Time Investigations Center, which integrates information from emergency calls, police cameras, drones, and automated license plate readers. The center has helped officers make over 500 arrests.

Larsen's funding also contributed to a $2.15 million rent-free lease for Ripple at 315 Montgomery Street through December 2026. However, a compliance audit found nearly 300 improper searches of San Francisco plate data conducted for federal and out-of-state agencies. The police department subsequently removed the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center's access to its Flock data.

Flock announced new safeguards in August, including reducing the default retention period from 30 days to seven days, mandatory misuse detection, multifactor authentication, and controls allowing agencies to restrict data sharing by offense type.