Axon Enterprise
Axon Enterprise, formerly known as TASER International, is an American technology company which focuses on military and law enforcement tools. Today, the company is becoming best known for their Mass surveillance systems, which identify and track the locations and movements of all citizens, over time.
History and growth
This company was founded in 1993, under then name AIR TASER, Inc., by Patrick Smith and Thomas Smith. Inspired by the original invention of Jack Cover,[1] they began with producing less-lethal weapons and protective systems which use electric shocks to deter or temporally disable people. They became well known for their electroshock weapons which would launch electrical leads into a target, and then (in most cases) disable that person using repeated electric shocks. These were marketed to law enforcement agencies, as a way to stop an unruly person, without immediately killing them (as a gunshot was much more likely to do). Axon still sells these sorts of products with great success, to this day.[2][3][4]
After significant financial troubles, the company rebranded as "TASER International" in 1998, and refocused its efforts. The company went public on the stock exchange in 2001.[5]
Cameras and surveillance
In 2005, TASER entered the industry of monitoring and evidence collection, with the introduction of a grip-mounted camera for their taser electroshock weapons.[6] Simply called "TASER Cam," this device would begin recording video automatically, when the user deactivated the safety (indicating that they may soon deploy the device). Three years later, the company unveiled their first body camera, the Axon Pro. These were rapidly marketed to law enforcement agencies, especially those in small towns and cities.[7] President Obama soon got involved, pushing for the further adoption of these body cameras.[8][9]
Then in spring 2017, the company rebranded again, this time taking the name "Axon Enterprise," as their focus shifted to the new integrated body camera system they were rolling out across the United States.[10]
Citizen tracking (ALPRs and facial recognition)
Axon and another mass-surveillance company named Flock Safety began sharing data with each other, to work on closing surveillance gaps. Flock was focused on tracking the physical moments of everyone within their area of influence. This data was being correlated with the data Axon was collecting through law enforcement agencies. However, In February 2025, the two companies publicly broke ties, with Axon saying that Flock was actively steering customers away from their services, by using predatory pricing which drove users to adopt Flock's services instead. Meanwhile, Flock's CEO Garrett Langley, said that "Axon decided that being open and collaborative is 'no longer in Axon’s best interests,' and no additional reason was given to us."
Two months later, Axon announced the launch of their own citizen tracing system powered by a networked Automated License Plate readers and facial recognition.[11] This directly competes with Flock's own tracking system, using pole-mounted ALPRs (much like Flock's) as well as ALPRs disguised in street lights.[12] Axon's "Outpost" surveillance devices also perform facial recognition, and vehicle recognition (independent of license plates).[13] This is in addition to the ALPR tracking system which Axon also deploys in law enforcement vehicles.[14]
Other mass surveillance
While Axon is building its own mass ALPR-based surveillance network, they have also taken other steps to collect data on the movements of citizens. For example, they established a partnership with Ring (a popular consumer surveillance platform owned by Amazon).[15] Flock Safety had previously been collecting this data from Ring as well, but discontinued that relationship under public pressure.[16][17] However, by all indications, Axon is still utilizing this data stream.[18]
Drones
Axon also released a drone system, which competes with Flock's drone offering.[19] Called Axon Air, this system provides "Drona as First Responder" services, among others.[20]
See also
References
- ↑ https://www.thestar.com/news/the-dark-lure-of-pain-compliance/article_a586f448-229c-5cdf-924e-8c41e16a9f5d.html
- ↑ https://www.axon.com/help/taser-10/taser-energy-weapons/taser-10/taser-10.htm
- ↑ https://taser.com/
- ↑ https://taser-evolution.axon.com/
- ↑ https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/if-youd-invested-10000-axon-enterprise-stock-24-years-ago-its-ipo-heres-how-much-youd-have
- ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-14/the-incredible-rise-of-taser-international
- ↑ https://gizmodo.com/how-police-body-cameras-were-designed-to-get-cops-off-t-1691693677
- ↑ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/225583-obama-to-provide-funding-for-50000-police-body-cameras/
- ↑ https://gizmodo.com/obama-to-provide-75-million-in-funding-for-50-000-poli-1665251555
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/business/taser-international-dominates-the-police-body-camera-market.html
- ↑ https://www.police1.com/technology/axon-rolls-out-new-alpr-cameras-ring-integration-to-boost-real-time-policing
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/04/22/axon-goes-after-rival-flock-with-new-car-surveillance-and-ai-voice-assistant/
- ↑ https://www.axon.com/products/axon-outpost
- ↑ https://www.axon.com/help/fleet-3/cameras-and-sensors/fleet/3/alpr/alpr-introduction.htm
- ↑ https://www.axon.com/blog/building-safer-communities-together-axon-and-ring
- ↑ https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/ring-flock-partnership-cancelled-victory-surveillance-2026/
- ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/amazons-ring-cancels-flock-partnership-amid-super-bowl-ad-backlash.html
- ↑ https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/ring-doorbell-police-access-axon-flock-2026/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/04/22/axon-goes-after-rival-flock-with-new-car-surveillance-and-ai-voice-assistant/
- ↑ https://www.axon.com/products/axon-air