Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to halt funding for Flock Safety cameras as scrutiny grows over the automated license plate readers and the data they collect.
Abbott’s office announced the move Thursday, saying state agencies are clarifying that their funding cannot be used to purchase Flock cameras. The governor’s office noted, however, that most government funding for the cameras comes from federal sources rather than the state.
“Almost all Flock cameras in Texas are used by cities, and those cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock,” Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement.
“To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government,” Mahaleris continued. “To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras.”
Flock Safety is one of the most widely used providers of automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, in Texas. The cameras photograph passing vehicles and record identifying information that can be searched by law enforcement.
The technology goes beyond simply reading license plates. Using artificial intelligence, Flock cameras can identify characteristics such as a vehicle’s make, model and color, along with distinguishing features including bumper stickers and dents.
Law enforcement agencies can use that information to search records across participating camera networks, potentially helping officers locate stolen vehicles, criminal suspects or vehicles connected to crimes.
But the size and reach of those networks have also fueled concerns about privacy, data sharing and how information collected by the cameras could be used.
Those concerns are beginning to affect Flock’s relationships with local governments across Texas.
Earlier this week, the Pflugerville City Council unanimously voted to terminate the city’s agreement with Flock. The decision eliminates all 28 camera readers included in the contract and disables the city’s access to the system.
Hood County has taken similar action. The county’s Commissioners Court voted to end its relationship with Flock and later unanimously directed that its three cameras be disconnected and covered until they can be removed.
During a Friday radio interview, Abbott said cities and counties have begun canceling their Flock contracts amid pressure from residents.
Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel defended the company’s technology and its use by law enforcement.
“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,” Lewbel said.
“We support 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,” Lewbel continued.
Thousands of cameras installed since 2023
Texas has helped fund a significant expansion of the technology in recent years.
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, a state agency focused on combating vehicle theft, burglary and motor vehicle fraud, has helped state and local agencies install more than 3,000 Flock cameras since 2023.
Grant funding for the cameras stemmed from a 2023 Texas law that added $1 to vehicle insurance policies to generate additional money to combat motor vehicle crime, including catalytic converter theft.
The funding has now become part of the broader debate over whether taxpayer dollars should be used for an expanding license plate surveillance network.
That debate is not limited to Texas.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has launched an investigation into Flock Safety and is seeking information about who can access data collected through the company’s network.
“Flock has assembled an unprecedented national surveillance network,” Hawley said. “They boast more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states and more than 20 billion vehicle scans every month.”
Hawley said his investigation is examining who has access to information collected on hundreds of millions of vehicles.
Abbott’s funding decision does not eliminate Flock cameras already operating across Texas, many of which are controlled by local governments and law enforcement agencies. But it adds state-level pressure to a debate that is increasingly playing out in city halls and county courthouses over where to draw the line between public safety technology and privacy.
