Digital platforms can algorithmically change rules, prices, and recommendations on a per-user, per-session basis, a practice called "twiddling." This leverages surveillance data to maximize extraction, such as raising prices on payday or offering lower wages to workers with high credit card debt, which was previously too labor-intensive for businesses to implement.

Unlike most countries with national police, the US has thousands of local agencies that historically could not share information effectively. This fragmentation is a major weakness that criminals exploit, creating a large opportunity for tech platforms that facilitate inter-agency data sharing.

Unlike most countries with a single national police force, the U.S. has a hyper-localized system with 17,000+ independent agencies. This fragmentation creates immense challenges for data sharing and cross-jurisdictional investigations, a problem that technology platforms like Flock are uniquely positioned to solve.

People rarely steal cars just for fun; they're typically stolen to be used as disposable tools for more serious crimes like robberies or shootings. This makes tracking stolen vehicles a crucial chokepoint for disrupting broader criminal activity.

In private property impounds (PPIs), the industry's least regulated sector, a driver can seize a car and simply call the police to report it. This enters the car into a system to prevent it from being reported stolen, but lacks any process to confirm the tow was legitimate, enabling widespread abuse.

A common predatory tactic is to use the calendar day as the billing unit. If a car is towed at 11 PM and the owner arrives at 1 AM, the company can legally charge for two full days of storage, despite the car being impounded for only a couple of hours across midnight.

Predatory towers may prefer junky-looking cars, assuming the owners have less cash on hand. When owners inevitably fail to pay the escalating fees, the tow company can legally seize the car, selling it at auction or for parts, creating a second, often more lucrative, revenue stream.

While a public towing system could curb predatory practices, most municipalities avoid it. The logistical challenges of acquiring land for impound lots, buying trucks, and staffing the operation represent significant financial and administrative burdens that cities prefer to offload to the private sector.

Metropolis couldn't sell its SaaS solution to incumbent parking operators because their business model relied on inefficient labor. These companies operate like staffing agencies on a cost-plus model, creating a fundamental disincentive to adopt tech that would reduce their core revenue stream.