Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has frozen state funding for Flock’s AI surveillance cameras and ordered a halt to funding across state agencies amid bipartisan backlash and growing public opposition.

The controversy surrounding Flock has intensified in Texas, influencing local contract discussions and ballot measures as critics push back on surveillance expansion.

National concern over automated license plate readers is rising, with debates about privacy, misuse, and vigilantism shaping policy discussions beyond Texas.

Flock Safety defends its technology as a tool to solve crimes, locate missing people, and bolster public safety, while pledging privacy guardrails and accountability.

Critics point to incidents of misuse and privacy breaches, leading to watchdog efforts and campaigns like Have I Been Flocked? that alert people if they were recorded.

Texas’ ALPR network is vast, with the Privacy Coalition listing more than 13,500 cameras across most counties, led by Harris, Dallas, and Tarrant counties.

Lawmakers argue the network enables mass surveillance and raises concerns about improper police use, spanning multiple political viewpoints.

National scrutiny has prompted actions such as U.S. Senator Hawley’s Missouri investigation into how Flock handles data captured by its cameras.

Since 2023, the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority funded hundreds of Flock cameras through auto insurance revenue and grants to local law enforcement.

The Flock controversy has become a macro-political issue, with candidates from both major parties using or criticizing the surveillance debate in campaigns.

Some lawmakers say the license plate fee funds were not intended to finance a statewide surveillance network, highlighting a misalignment between intent and outcomes.

Across municipalities, contracts are being canceled and scrutiny increases over data sharing, access to feeds, and transparency in how Flock operates.