Texas Gov. Greg Abbott moves to cut state funding for AI-powered Flock cameras amid privacy concerns

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state agencies to stop using public funds for Flock Safety's AI-powered surveillance cameras, amid growing backlash against the automated license plate readers across the state and the country.

Abbott's office confirmed the order on Thursday, emphasizing that the freeze applies only to state-agency dollars. "Almost all Flock cameras in Texas are used by cities, and those cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock," said Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for the governor, in a statement.

"To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government," Mahaleris added. "To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras."

The decision marks a significant reversal for a technology that has been rapidly expanding across Texas with state support. Since 2023, the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, a state agency created to combat vehicle theft and related crimes, has helped fund the installation of more than 3,000 Flock cameras, according to the Texas Tribune.

State grants for the cameras trace back to a 2023 law that added a $1 surcharge to vehicle insurance policies in Texas, intended primarily to address a wave of catalytic converter thefts. Before that legislation passed, there had been no discussion in the state Legislature about directing the money toward Flock cameras, the Tribune reported.

Flock Safety is one of the most widely used providers of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in the country. The cameras photograph passing vehicles and record identifying information, then use artificial intelligence to detect vehicle characteristics such as make, model, and color, as well as distinctive features like bumper stickers or dents. The data is searchable across networks of participating law enforcement agencies.

Supporters say the technology helps police quickly locate criminal suspects, stolen vehicles, and cars connected to crimes. Critics have raised alarms about privacy, data sharing practices, and the potential for misuse of the information collected.

Abbott's order comes as a growing number of Texas cities and counties have begun to reconsider their relationships with Flock. Earlier this week, the Pflugerville City Council voted unanimously to terminate the city's agreement with the company, pulling all 28 camera readers covered by the contract and disabling access to the system, according to the city.

In Hood County, the Commissioners Court also voted to end its partnership with Flock and later unanimously directed that the county's three cameras be disconnected and physically covered until they can be removed.

In a Friday radio interview, Abbott said cities and counties have begun canceling their Flock contracts under pressure from residents, according to the Texas Tribune.

The governor's directive also follows an op-ed earlier this month from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a Republican, published in the Houston Chronicle, in which he urged Abbott to halt new purchases of surveillance technology.

Flock Safety defended its technology in a statement to Fox News Digital. Spokesperson Paris Lewbel called the cameras "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."

"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 said.

Scrutiny of Flock's reach has extended well beyond Texas. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has launched his own inquiry into the company.

"Flock has assembled an unprecedented national surveillance network," Hawley previously told Fox News Digital. "They boast more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states and more than 20 billion vehicle scans every month."

Hawley said he is investigating who has access to the data Flock collects on hundreds of millions of vehicles.

It remains unclear how quickly Abbott's funding pause will translate into changes on the ground, given that most Flock cameras in Texas are funded and operated at the local level. But the governor's move adds momentum to a wave of local decisions that, taken together, signal a turning point in how the state and its communities view the balance between public safety tools and personal privacy.