Texas Governor Abbott blocks funding for more Flock cameras
The Verge
β’2026-08-30T11:35:10-04:00
π° What Happened
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen state spending on Flock's AI surveillance cameras, a move that came just ahead of a Texas Tribune investigation revealing the state spent over $30 million on them. The backlash is mounting on both sides of politics, with cities around the country - including many in Texas - cancelling Flock contracts, and at least six officers in Texas placed on leave or criminally charged for misusing the systems.
π The Backstory
Flock and other automatic licence plate readers have come under scrutiny over data-sharing, camera placement near playgrounds, employees' access to video feeds, unsecured feeds and attempts to avoid transparency. Abbott's Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa has criticised his expansion of the cameras, while Republican representative Keith Self posted that 'from Flock cameras to kill switches, we will NOT surrender our Fourth Amendment rights' - and destroying the cameras has become a unifying pastime online.
π― Why It Matters
The freeze shows the tide turning against police surveillance technology even in a conservative state that embraced it, signalling risk for Flock's business model. It matters to anyone concerned about mass surveillance, and could influence how cities across the US treat ALPR cameras.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen state spending on Flock's AI surveillance cameras, a move that came just ahead of a Texas Tribune investigation revealing the state spent over $30 million on them. The backlash is mounting on both sides of politics, with cities around the country - including many in Texas - cancelling Flock contracts, and at least six officers in Texas placed on leave or criminally charged for misusing the systems.
Flock and other automatic licence plate readers have come under scrutiny over data-sharing, camera placement near playgrounds, employees' access to video feeds, unsecured feeds and attempts to avoid transparency. Abbott's Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa has criticised his expansion of the cameras, while Republican representative Keith Self posted that 'from Flock cameras to kill switches, we will NOT surrender our Fourth Amendment rights' - and destroying the cameras has become a unifying pastime online.
The freeze shows the tide turning against police surveillance technology even in a conservative state that embraced it, signalling risk for Flock's business model. It matters to anyone concerned about mass surveillance, and could influence how cities across the US treat ALPR cameras.