Texas Governor Abbott halts funding for additional Flock cameras.

As concerns mount over Flock’s AI surveillance cameras, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has put a halt to state funding for them. This decision comes just before a Texas Tribune investigation revealed that the state had allocated over $30 million for Flock cameras, primarily funded by adding a $1 fee to insurance policies, supposedly to combat catalytic converter theft.

Flock cameras have faced increasing backlash from various political groups due to privacy issues. There have been several cases of officers being suspended or facing criminal charges for the misuse of Flock systems, with at least six incidents reported in Texas alone. The company has also faced criticism for its data-sharing practices, the placement of cameras near playgrounds, employee access to video feeds, unsecured video streams, and its lack of transparency.

In recent months, numerous cities across the nation, including several in Texas, have begun terminating their contracts with Flock. Abbott’s Democratic challenger for governor, Gina Hinojosa, has called him out for expanding the use of these cameras in the state. Additionally, Republican representative Keith Self recently expressed on Instagram, “From Flock cameras to kill switches, we will NOT surrender our Fourth Amendment rights to the growing surveillance state.” The push to dismantle Flock cameras has even become a rallying point online.