Texas Governor pauses state funding for Flock Safety license-plate cameras amid privacy concerns
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a halt to Texas agency funding for Flock Safety's automated license-plate readers as cities and counties reconsider contracts over data-privacy issues.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed state agencies on Thursday to stop using state funds for Flock Safety's AI-driven license-plate cameras, citing growing privacy and surveillance concerns. The governor's office said most of the financing for the devices comes from federal sources, and any state money previously allocated to the cameras will no longer be used.
"Almost all Flock cameras in Texas are used by cities, and those cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock," spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said.
"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," Mahaleris added.
Flock Safety, a leading provider of automated license-plate readers (ALPRs), operates cameras that capture vehicle details and use artificial intelligence to identify make, model, color and other characteristics. Law-enforcement agencies can query the collected data across participating networks.
Supporters argue the technology helps locate suspects, recover stolen vehicles and solve crimes, while critics raise concerns about data sharing, privacy safeguards and potential misuse. Recent local actions reflect those concerns: the Pflugerville City Council voted unanimously to terminate its contract for 28 cameras, and Hood County commissioners ordered the disconnection and covering of three cameras pending removal.
In a radio interview, Abbott noted that municipalities are ending contracts under pressure from residents. Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel defended the system, calling it an "important public safety tool" and saying the company supports legislation that provides privacy, transparency and accountability safeguards.
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, a state agency, has helped install more than 3,000 Flock cameras since 2023, funded in part by a 2023 law that added a $1 surcharge to vehicle insurance policies to combat catalytic converter theft. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller recently urged Abbott to halt new purchases of surveillance technology.
The scrutiny extends beyond Texas, with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) requesting information on Flock's national network, which he says includes over 120,000 cameras in 49 states and processes billions of vehicle scans each month.