Texas Freezes $30 Million AI Camera Programme Amid Growing Bipartisan Privacy Backlash
Governor Greg Abbott has halted state spending on Flock Safety cameras after a newspaper investigation revealed Texas quietly spent more than $30 million on the AI surveillance network, funded by a $1 fee added to insurance policies.
Key points
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott froze all state spending on Flock Safety AI surveillance cameras in August 2026.
- A Texas Tribune investigation found Texas spent more than $30 million on Flock cameras, funded largely by a $1 surcharge added to insurance policies.
- At least six Texas police officers have been placed on leave or criminally charged for misusing Flock systems.
- Cities across the country are cancelling Flock contracts, and politicians from both major parties have voiced opposition.
- Flock Safety has faced criticism over data sharing, unsecured video feeds, and camera placements near playgrounds.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott froze state spending on Flock Safety cameras at the end of August 2026, just before a Texas Tribune investigation revealed the state had quietly spent more than $30 million on the AI-powered licence-plate-reading cameras. They scan passing vehicles and flag matches against law-enforcement watchlists. Most of that money came from a $1 fee tacked onto every insurance policy sold in Texas, sold to the public as a way to fight catalytic converter theft.
What exactly is a Flock Safety camera?
Flock Safety cameras automatically read licence plates and use AI software to alert police when a flagged vehicle drives past: always-on electronic checkpoints, installed across thousands of public spaces in the United States. Some sit near playgrounds. The company's own employees can access video feeds, and the system shares data with other law-enforcement agencies, details that have alarmed privacy advocates. It also stores footage and has drawn criticism for unsecured feeds and what critics call clumsy attempts to dodge public-records requests.
AI2Day has been tracking the pattern. Our 17 August story found that Flock updated its rules after officers used the system to track women, and critics said the changes didn't go nearly far enough.
Why are both Republicans and Democrats upset?
Both sides see a threat, from different directions. At least six Texas officers have been placed on leave or faced criminal charges for misusing Flock data. Nationally, the number is far larger: our 23 August report documented forty-six officers accused of using Flock cameras to stalk partners. Republican Representative Keith Self posted on Instagram: "From Flock cameras to kill switches, we will NOT surrender our Fourth Amendment rights to the growing surveillance state." Abbott's Democratic opponent for governor, Gina Hinojosa, has criticised him for expanding the programme in the first place.
| Concern | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost to taxpayers | Over $30 million spent in Texas alone |
| Officers sanctioned | At least 6 in Texas for misuse |
| Funding method | $1 fee added to insurance policies |
| Camera placements | Some located near playgrounds |
| Data access | Flock employees can view footage |
The company hasn't commented directly on the freeze.
What happens next?
Abbott's freeze stops new state money flowing to Flock but doesn't cancel existing local contracts. Cities around the country have been dropping Flock deals for months; Texas may accelerate that. If you live somewhere with Flock cameras, your licence plate has almost certainly been logged. Check whether your city or county has a contract and what its data-retention policy says.
The real test is federal: privacy legislation has stalled in Congress for years, and it's unclear whether bipartisan disgust at one camera company is enough to move it. Watch whether the Texas freeze prompts other governors to act, or whether this stays a city-by-city fight.
