Texas Halts Flock Camera Funding Amid Growing Privacy Backlash and Misuse Allegations

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a halt to state funding for Flock surveillance cameras, responding to escalating public concerns over privacy and documented instances of misuse. This decision comes as a Texas Tribune investigation revealed the state has spent over $30 million on these cameras, with a significant portion funded by an insurance policy surcharge.

The freeze on funding follows a high-profile case where a Lufkin police officer is accused of abusing Flock's automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology to track his ex-girlfriend's vehicle over 10,000 times. Such incidents are fueling a broader debate about the ethical deployment and oversight of AI-powered surveillance systems across the state and nation, leading some cities to reconsider or terminate their contracts with Flock.