AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop using state funds for Flock cameras, the AI-powered license plate readers that have expanded rapidly across Texas, his spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said Friday.
The freeze came as the Texas Tribune was preparing to publish an investigation showing that the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority—a board mostly appointed by Abbott—had committed at least $30 million to the cameras since 2023. The authority distributed those funds as grants to local police departments.
The grants came from a 2023 law that added $1 to Texas auto insurance policies to combat catalytic converter theft. Lawmakers told the Tribune they never discussed using the money for surveillance cameras before the bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
Flock cameras are license plate readers that use artificial intelligence to capture and store data far beyond registration numbers—vehicle make, model, color, bumper stickers, dents. Police departments grant access to other agencies, creating a nationwide surveillance network.
The Department of Public Safety alone is installing nearly 1,200 cameras through a $15.9 million, three-year contract with the authority.
Abbott's move reflects mounting pressure. Public figures and lawmakers across the political spectrum have raised constitutional privacy concerns. Cities and counties across Texas have begun canceling contracts with Flock Safety, the company behind the cameras.
Flock Safety said in a statement that it supports "thoughtful legislation" that includes privacy safeguards and maintains that its technology helps law enforcement solve crimes, locate missing people and recover stolen vehicles.
Abbott described the action as a "crackdown" during a Friday morning radio interview.
While federal funding covers most city camera spending, Abbott's freeze on state money marks a rare break between the governor and law enforcement over surveillance technology.
