Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to pause funding for Flock Safety's AI-powered license plate readers, citing growing privacy concerns that have prompted several Texas cities to cancel their contracts with the surveillance technology provider.
Abbott's office stated that while most funding for the cameras originates from federal sources, any state agency funds allocated for Flock cameras will be halted. "To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government," said Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris. "To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras."
Flock Safety cameras, widely used in Texas, photograph passing vehicles and collect identifying information. The system uses artificial intelligence to detect vehicle characteristics like make, model, and color, and can even identify features such as bumper stickers or dents. Law enforcement agencies can then search this data across networks of participating cameras to locate criminal suspects, stolen vehicles, or vehicles connected to crimes.
Supporters argue the technology is a vital public safety tool, enabling law enforcement to quickly resolve criminal cases. However, opponents have raised significant concerns regarding privacy, data sharing practices, and the potential for misuse of the collected information.
This development follows a trend of Texas cities reassessing their use of Flock technology. The Pflugerville City Council recently voted unanimously to end its contract, disconnecting all 28 cameras covered by the agreement. Hood County's Commissioners Court also voted to end its relationship with Flock, directing that its three cameras be disconnected and covered pending removal.
Flock Safety defends its technology as a crucial tool for law enforcement. "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," said Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel. Lewbel added that the company supports "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 away safe."
Since 2023, a Texas state agency, the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, has assisted in the installation of over 3,000 Flock cameras, funded in part by a 2023 law that added $1 to vehicle insurance policies to combat catalytic converter theft.
Scrutiny of Flock Safety's extensive network, which reportedly includes over 120,000 cameras across 49 states and processes more than 20 billion vehicle scans monthly, has extended to Capitol Hill. Sen. Josh Hawley has expressed concern about the company's national surveillance network and is investigating data access.
