As Public Fury Mounts, Texas Pulls the Plug on Flock Surveillance Funding
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock Safety’s AI-powered license-plate cameras, escalating backlash over the company’s surveillance network. The directive came as the Texas Tribune reported that a state agency had directed at least $30 million toward expanding Flock coverage in Texas, including thousands of cameras installed through grants and a Department of Public Safety contract. Abbott said state funds should not be used for the cameras, while many local purchases rely on federal money. He also pointed to recent misuse investigations involving Texas officers. Flock cameras record vehicle details and can share data across agencies nationwide, drawing criticism over privacy and weak oversight. Opposition has become bipartisan, with lawmakers and activists warning about mass surveillance, while Flock argues its technology improves public safety.
