31 August 2026
Texas halts state spending on Flock AI surveillance cameras
First reported
The Verge ran this on , a day before the next source picked it up.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott froze state funding for Flock cameras, which use AI to identify vehicles from footage. The state had spent over $30 million on the system.
- The funding came from a $1 fee added to insurance policies, ostensibly to combat catalytic converter theft. Multiple Texas law enforcement officers have faced discipline or charges for misusing the system.
- Flock cameras have drawn criticism from both political parties over privacy issues, data-sharing practices, unsecured video feeds, and instances of officers being punished for improper access.
How it was covered
MindstreamAdam Biddlecombe
Texas suspended state funding for Flock's AI-powered surveillance cameras after spending over 30 million dollars on the technology, following privacy concerns and reports of law enforcement misuse. The move reflects growing reconsideration of Flock camera use across US cities.
Reported by The Verge