Texas Freezes State Funding for Flock AI Surveillance Network After Allocating $30M

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock Safety cameras following mounting privacy concerns and reports of surveillance misuse. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority allocated at least $30M to build Texas' Flock surveillance network by granting funds to local police departments. State and local agencies installed at least 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023, including nearly 1,200 devices deployed by the Department of Public Safety under a three-year, $15.9M contract. Grant funding originated from a 2023 state law adding a $1 fee to auto insurance policies to fight catalytic converter theft, though lawmakers noted the bill never discussed funding camera networks. At least six police departments and sheriff's offices across Texas placed officers on leave, launched investigations, or filed criminal charges over camera data misuse in the past month. "This is something that is easily containable, easily controllable, and we're ensuring that whether it be through criminal crackdowns, whether it be through cancellation of contracts, whatever the case may be, Flock cameras are being reduced dramatically." — Greg Abbott