Technology, Crime, and Public Safety w/ Garrett Langley, CEO of Flock Safety

The podcast explores the complexities of crime in America, arguing that despite falling crime statistics, the baseline level remains unacceptably high compared to other developed nations. It highlights that a significant portion of crime is now organized and profit-driven, involving sophisticated operations like South American gangs dealing in narcotics and Eastern European groups engaging in financial fraud. Noah Smith suggests that America's suburbanized landscape hinders effective policing strategies such as foot patrols, while also advocating for widespread implementation of camera surveillance as a deterrent. The potential downsides of a surveillance state are weighed against the benefits of reducing crime and fostering safer, more walkable cities, referencing Japan's successful use of cameras to decrease crime rates.