Gov. Greg Abbott just pulled the plug on Big Brother in Texas!
Under his watch, agencies will no longer be allowed to use state dollars to purchase controversial, AI-powered Flock surveillance cameras.
As you are probably aware, these cameras have begun popping up all over the country, fueling genuine concerns about illegal, mass surveillance of U.S. citizens.
Here are the details:
Texas is pulling the plug on state funding for AI-powered cameras that can track far more than just your license plate.
Gov. Greg Abbott orders state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras as communities across Texas push back over privacy and data-sharing concerns.
The…
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— Fox News (@FoxNews)
August 29, 2026
Texas is pulling the plug on state funding for AI-powered cameras that can track far more than just your license plate.
Gov. Greg Abbott orders state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras as communities across Texas push back over privacy and data-sharing concerns.
The technology can identify a vehicle’s make, model and color, along with details like bumper stickers and dents, while allowing law enforcement to search records across participating camera networks.
The backlash is already translating into action. Pflugerville City Council voted unanimously to end its contract and eliminate 28 readers, while Hood County ordered its three cameras disconnected and covered until they can be removed.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered all state agencies to pause and block funding for AI-powered Flock Safety surveillance cameras.
This comes after growing bipartisan concern over mass surveillance, warrantless tracking, and data misuse.
Flock Safety spokesperson Paris…
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— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs)
August 29, 2026
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered all state agencies to pause and block funding for AI-powered Flock Safety surveillance cameras.
This comes after growing bipartisan concern over mass surveillance, warrantless tracking, and data misuse.
Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel defended the cameras as vital tools for recovering stolen cars, locating missing persons, and solving violent crimes.
Gov. Abbott’s directive comes after Texas reportedly spent tens of millions of dollars on building a Flock surveillance network across the state.
While this is a big move in the right direction, unfortunately, his order only applies to state dollars. Agencies can still use federal money for buying Flock cameras.
The Texas Tribune reported further:
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.
The company who makes them assures us all that Flock cameras, which record and store vehicle data, will only be used by law enforcement to take down the bad guys.
But, this is doing little to quell the public’s privacy concerns.
In Texas alone, several cities have already passed legislation to ban the dystopian Flock cameras.
Fox News noted:
Abbott’s office told Fox News Digital that the state was moving to cut off state-agency funding for the cameras, while noting that most funding for them comes from the federal government.
“Almost all Flock cameras in Texas are used by cities, and those cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock,” Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement…
Flock Safety is one of the most widely used providers of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in Texas. The cameras photograph passing vehicles and record identifying information. Using artificial intelligence, the cameras can detect vehicle characteristics such as make, model and color, as well as features including bumper stickers or dents.
Using the information collected, law enforcement agencies can search records across participating camera networks.
Supporters of the technology argue the cameras can help authorities quickly locate criminal suspects, stolen vehicles or vehicles connected to crimes. Opponents have raised concerns about privacy and data sharing, as well as the potential misuse of information collected by the cameras.
Abbott’s move comes as a growing number of Texas cities and counties reconsider their relationships with Flock, citing concerns over data sharing, privacy and the potential for misuse.
Earlier this week, the Pflugerville City Council voted unanimously to end the city’s agreement with Flock, eliminating all 28 camera readers covered by the contract and disabling access to the system, according to the city.
In Hood County, the Commissioners Court also voted to end its relationship with Flock and later unanimously directed that the county’s three cameras be disconnected and covered until they can be removed.
Action against Flock isn’t just limited to local governments, either.
On Capitol Hill, Sen. Josh Hawley has announced a full investigation into Flock.
Read what he had to say here:
Americans do not surrender their privacy rights when they drive to work, drop their kids off at school, or go to church.
I’m investigating Flock cameras to determine WHO has access to hundreds of millions of Americans’ data – and what they’re doing with it
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— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO)
August 26, 2026
What are your thoughts?
Should the federal government follow in Gov. Abbott’s footsteps and cut off all funding to Flock surveillance cameras?
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[ H/T WLT Report ]
