Key facts
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to halt funding for Flock Safety surveillance cameras.
- The state has supported the installation of at least 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023.
- A significant portion of the funding was derived from a $1 auto-insurance fee designated for combating catalytic converter theft.
- Abbott cited instances of misuse and ongoing investigations into officers' actions as reasons for the directive.
- Flock Safety's network of cameras collects vehicle data and allows for cross-agency data sharing.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state agencies to stop funding Flock Safety's AI-powered surveillance cameras, intensifying scrutiny on the license-plate-reader company. The directive, confirmed by Abbott's office to the Texas Tribune, comes amid growing bipartisan opposition and concerns over privacy and misuse.
The Texas Tribune reported that state agencies have facilitated the installation of at least 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023. A significant portion of this funding originated from a $1 surcharge on auto insurance policies, initially intended to combat catalytic converter theft, a use that lawmakers stated was never intended for surveillance technology.
Governor Abbott described the move as a "crackdown" in response to cities canceling contracts and reports of misuse. He referenced a Lufkin officer facing 100 counts of misusing public information and noted that several Texas departments have placed officers on leave or under investigation recently.
Flock cameras collect vehicle data, including make, model, color, and bumper stickers, and can be networked across agencies nationwide. Critics argue this creates a vast surveillance network with insufficient oversight. The company maintains its technology is a public-safety tool and supports legislation with privacy safeguards.