Governor Greg Abbott Pauses State Funding for Flock Cameras

Governor Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock Safety AI-powered surveillance cameras on Thursday night. The executive action follows a Texas Tribune investigation revealing that the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority used at least $30 million in grants to install over 3,200 cameras since 2023. These funds were derived from a 2023 law that added a $1 surcharge to auto insurance policies specifically to combat catalytic converter theft.

The funding freeze comes amid escalating privacy concerns and reports of system misuse across at least six law enforcement agencies. In one high-profile case, a Lufkin police officer was indicted on August 24 on 100 counts of misusing public information to surveil 11 individuals. State Representative Brian Harrison criticized the diversion of funds, stating he would not have voted for the fee had he known it would fund what he termed warrantless surveillance.

While state institutions are now forbidden from providing local assistance for the technology, federal funds continue to provide the majority of municipal support for the systems. Flock Safety maintains that its technology is a vital tool for solving serious crimes and recovering stolen vehicles. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Keith Self has proposed federal legislation requiring warrants to access the data to protect Fourth Amendment privacy rights.