Texas Governor Abbott Blocks State Funding for Flock Safety License Plate Readers

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order withholding state grants for Flock Safety surveillance cameras following widespread privacy audit concerns.

In a surprising privacy action, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state law enforcement agencies to suspend funding and deployment grants for Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera networks. The executive action follows audit disclosures indicating that vehicle location data was shared across out-of-state jurisdictions without explicit judicial warrants.

The decision marks a significant policy shift in conservative state governance, signaling growing skepticism regarding privatized, AI-driven surveillance infrastructure operating on municipal public rights-of-way.