Texas is taking action against the growing use of AI-powered surveillance cameras, as concerns mount over how vehicle data is collected, shared and accessed.
Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock Safety cameras, putting additional pressure on a surveillance network that has expanded across communities in Texas. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over privacy, data-sharing and the potential misuse of information collected by automated license plate readers.
Flock cameras are designed to capture more than license plates. The system can record details such as a vehicle’s make, model and color, along with other identifying characteristics. The data can then be searched by authorized law-enforcement users, including through interconnected networks.
The backlash is already producing results at the local level.
In Pflugerville, the City Council voted unanimously to end its Flock contract. The city had been operating 28 cameras, which officials had previously used for criminal investigations. The decision followed revelations about access to data by outside law-enforcement agencies.
In Hood County, commissioners voted to end the county's Flock contract. Officials later ordered the county's three cameras unplugged and covered until they could be removed.
Supporters of Flock argue the technology can help police investigate crimes and locate vehicles connected to serious offenses. Critics, however, say widespread vehicle tracking raises major questions about privacy, government surveillance and who should have access to the data.
With Texas now pulling state funding and more communities reconsidering their contracts, the fight over Flock cameras is becoming a larger debate over public safety vs. personal privacy.
Should Texas ban or restrict Flock cameras statewide?
YES or NO?
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