Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to halt funding for automated Flock Safety license plate reader cameras. The directive follows mounting bipartisan backlash over privacy rights and isolated instances of system misuse by law enforcement officers across the state.
State spending on the mass-surveillance camera network came to a sudden halt this week as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott froze state support for the shoebox-sized automated license plate reader (ALPR) devices.
Republicans and Democrats once praised Flock Safety as a protection tool for American communities, but politicians across the political spectrum are now turning against the mass-surveillance technology.
A map shows which Texas counties have the most automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras as Republican governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to halt funding for Flock cameras. It comes amid a widespread backlash against the surveillance technology company over concerns about privacy and abuse of its system by some police officers.
The Texas Tribune first reported Abbott’s order, saying it came as the outlet was preparing to publish an investigation about how a state agency has devoted at least $30 million to building up the state’s Flock surveillance network through grants to local police departments over the past three years. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, which is led by a board mostly appointed by Abbott, has helped install at least 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023.
Abbott’s spokesman Andrew Mahaleris confirmed to Newsweek that the governor had told his agencies to no longer direct any state funding to Flock cameras.
Millions in State Grants and Insurance Fee Funding
Texas Legislature 2023 Law
The state-backed expansion of the surveillance network traces back to a 2023 law. The Texas Legislature passed a law raising auto insurance costs for Texans by $1.
Privacy Backlash and High-Profile Misuse Scandals
Police Officers in United States
Public opposition intensified alongside reports of system abuse. The technology has also been objeto de escrutinio por la manera en que las agencias de las fuerzas del orden utilizan la información. Varios agentes de policía en Estados Unidos han sido acusados de utilizar indebidamente los sistemas de lectores de placas para rastrear a personas, incluyendo ex parejas sentimentales.
Supporters of the technology argue the cameras can help authorities quickly locate criminal suspects, stolen vehicles or vehicles connected to crimes. Opponents have raised concerns about privacy and data sharing, as well as potential misuse of information collected by the cameras. While the exact total number of agencies across the state that have been “sighted” for abuse is not publicly confirmed, the available evidence points to 3 agencies that have been named in the Houston area, and 5 agencies have been tied to documentation related searches in North Texas.
Current Distribution and Future Restrictions Across Texas Counties
Andrew Mahaleris Spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott
Despite the widespread deployment, the landscape is shifting rapidly.
“Almost all Flock cameras in Texas are used by cities, and those cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock. 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.”
Andrew Mahaleris, Spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott
Flock Safety Statement to Newsweek
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Flock Safety said in a statement to Newsweek that it 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 safe.
The statement added: 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.
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