Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies Thursday to pause funding for AI-powered Flock Safety cameras, a widely used surveillance technology that has drawn increasing scrutiny over privacy and data-sharing practices. The governor's office said the state is moving to cut off agency funding for the cameras, while noting that most financial support for them comes from the federal government.
«Almost all Flock cameras in Texas are used by cities, and those cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock,» Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement. «To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government. To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras.»
Flock Safety is one of the most widely used providers of automated license plate readers in Texas. The cameras photograph passing vehicles and record identifying information. Using artificial intelligence, the cameras can detect vehicle characteristics such as make, model and color, as well as features including bumper stickers or dents. Law enforcement agencies can then search records across participating camera networks using the collected information.
Supporters of the technology argue the cameras help authorities quickly locate criminal suspects, stolen vehicles or vehicles connected to crimes. Opponents have raised concerns about privacy, data sharing and the potential misuse of information collected by the cameras.
Abbott's move comes as a growing number of Texas cities and counties reconsider their relationships with Flock. Earlier this week, the Pflugerville City Council voted unanimously to end the city's agreement with Flock, eliminating all 28 camera readers covered by the contract and disabling access to the system, according to the city. In Hood County, the Commissioners Court also voted to end its relationship with Flock and later unanimously directed that the county's three cameras be disconnected and covered until they can be removed.
Abbott said in a Friday radio interview that cities and counties have begun canceling contracts with Flock Safety amid pressure from residents, according to the Texas Tribune.
In a statement, Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel defended the technology as an important public safety tool. «Flock's technology is an important public safety tool for law enforcement agencies across Texas, helping officers solve serious crimes, find missing people, recover stolen vehicles, and support safer communities,» Lewbel said. «We support thoughtful legislation and strong privacy, transparency, and accountability guardrails that ensure technology is used responsibly while preserving law enforcement's ability to use effective tools to keep people safe.»
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, a Texas state agency created to combat vehicle theft, burglaries and fraud-related motor vehicle crimes, helped state and local agencies install more than 3,000 Flock cameras since 2023, according to the Tribune. State grants for the cameras stemmed from a 2023 law that added $1 to vehicle insurance policies across Texas to combat rampant catalytic converter theft. Prior to the law, there had been no discussion in the state Legislature about using the money for Flock cameras, the outlet reported.
Earlier this month, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a Republican, penned an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle urging Abbott to halt new surveillance-technology purchases.
Scrutiny of Flock's technology has also extended beyond Texas. On Capitol Hill, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is demanding answers from Flock Safety. «Flock has assembled an unprecedented national surveillance network,» Hawley previously told Fox News Digital. «They boast more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states and more than 20 billion vehicle scans every month.» Hawley said he is investigating the company to determine who has access to data collected on hundreds of millions of vehicles.