Texas pauses state funding for Flock cameras amid privacy backlash

Texas pauses state funding for Flock cameras

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to pause funding for Flock surveillance cameras, a move announced after reporting by The Texas Tribune detailed how a state agency used millions from an auto insurance fee to expand the network. Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement that most funding for Flock cameras in Texas comes from the federal government, and that any state funds would be clarified as unavailable for the devices.

The pause follows years of growth for the license plate reader network. In 2023, the Texas Legislature unanimously passed a law raising auto insurance costs for Texans by $1 to combat catalytic converter theft. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, a state agency led by a board mostly appointed by Abbott, has devoted at least $30 million of that fee toward expanding the state's Flock network, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune.

The agency has awarded at least 95 grants to help law enforcement agencies purchase and maintain about 2,000 Flock cameras. Another $15.9 million is helping the Texas Department of Public Safety add almost 1,200 more, and in early August the agency approved an additional $3 million for 583 cameras along Texas tollways.

Miguel Rodriguez, chair of the authority and Laredo Police Chief, said during an August 2023 meeting that he hoped to use proceeds from the fee increase to "cover the entire state" with cameras. In an email, he described the cameras as a powerful tool against criminal organizations, saying they "directly disrupt the operational advantage these transnational criminal organizations rely on."

Cities reconsider contracts

The pause comes as several Texas cities have ended or reconsidered their Flock contracts, citing privacy concerns. Wylie and Pflugerville ended their contracts last week, according to FOX 4 News. Princeton Mayor Eugene Escobar called on his city council to reconsider cameras obtained through a state grant program. Liberty Hill city leaders have until the end of October to decide on their Flock partnership, and Manvel Mayor Dan Davis shared posts on Facebook explaining his reversal of support for the system.

Abbott, in an interview with Glenn Beck, called the cities' cancellations a "crackdown" and said citizens are concerned about their Fourth Amendment rights. "Their privacy must be protected," he said. He added that Flock cameras are being reduced dramatically and will be required to be used responsibly.

Almost 100 municipalities in the S. have ended their Flock contracts in response to public outcry, including several in Texas, such as Bandera and Hood County, according to reporting from The Texas Tribune and the Associated Press.

Law enforcement defends the technology

Police officials in several Texas cities credit the cameras with significant crime-fighting results. Pasadena Police Sgt. Douglas Buckert said the cameras "changed the game" for catalytic converter theft investigations. Dallas Police Sgt. Bryan Roden told board members during a January meeting that an authority grant allowed his department to increase its network from 100 to 300 cameras, helping to bust a million-dollar tire theft ring and solve a hit-and-run. Temple Police crime analyst Mike Treehern told The Texas Tribune that the cameras helped decrease stolen vehicles in his city, where 84% of their Flock cameras are funded by the state grant.

In Cibolo, a city north of San Antonio with a population of 36,000, an authority grant multiplied the number of Flock cameras from 11 to 52. Some city networks, like the 165 cameras in Laredo and 150 in El Paso, were entirely subsidized by the grants.

Data from the license plate readers was searched 62,000 times in 2025, leading to about 1,660 cleared catalytic converter theft cases, according to a report from the authority.

Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel defended the technology as an important public safety tool, saying the company supports thoughtful legislation and strong privacy guardrails. Flock spokesperson Trevor Chandler said in an interview that the company's data sharing has been one of the most effective ways to help find missing persons.

Misuse concerns and legislative pushback

Concerns about privacy extend beyond city cancellations. A Lufkin officer was indicted Aug. 24 on 100 counts of misusing official information. Officers in Baytown, Harris County, Fort Bend County, Temple and Pasadena have also been arrested, disciplined or investigated for misuse of Flock data, according to reporting from The Texas Tribune and the Associated Press.

State Rep. Harrison and another lawmaker said they intend to file bills next legislative session banning the devices, arguing they violate the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches. Harrison said he was "shocked and dismayed" that so few Republicans had spoken out against Flock cameras.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa, a candidate for governor, blamed Abbott for the expansion of Flock cameras. In a social media post, she said, "This is Greg Abbott's playbook," and her campaign released an ad about the increase in Flock cameras last month.