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Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras as scrutiny over the AI-powered surveillance devices has mounted.
The order came as The Texas Tribune was preparing to publish an investigation detailing how a state agency has devoted at least $30 million to building up the state’s Flock surveillance network by providing grants to local police departments.
Abbott gave the order Thursday night to halt state funding for Flock cameras, his spokesman confirmed Friday.
“To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government. To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras,” Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement shared first with the Tribune.
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, led by a board mostly appointed by Abbott, has helped state and local agencies install at least 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023. Almost 1,200 of cameras are being installed by the Department of Public Safety thanks to a three-year, $15.9 million contract with the authority.
The authority’s grants came from a 2023 law that added $1 to Texas auto insurance policies to combat rampant catalytic converter theft. Before the law passed unanimously in the House and Senate, there had been no discussion of using the money for Flock cameras and similar devices, lawmakers told the Tribune.
Flock cameras are a unique type of license plate reader that utilize artificial intelligence to track and store data on vehicle characteristics including the make, model and color as well as details like bumper stickers and dents. Departments that use Flock cameras can allow other agencies to access their devices, creating a...
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