Texas agency suspends Flock camera approvals

The Texas Department of Transportation suspended issuing approvals for Flock’s automated license plate readers (ALPR) amid growing security and privacy concerns surrounding the technology.

“TxDOT’s role is to review permits to ensure license plate readers are installed correctly and safely along state-owned roadways,” an agency spokesperson told NewsNation in a statement. “TxDOT does not have access to the data collected from the license plate readers, and these cameras are placed at the request of law enforcement.”

“Under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, TxDOT has suspended issuing approvals for Flock cameras or similar devices installed by third parties in our ROW [public roadways],” the spokesperson continued.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered all state agencies in August to halt funding for Flock cameras. Nearly all Flock cameras in the state are purchased by cities through federal funding.

The concern spread to Florida, which moved to halt the use of Flock cameras on state highways earlier this year. The Sunshine State’s Department of Transportation said “concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns and surveillance schemes merit immediate action to preserve Floridians’ sovereignty and quality of life.”

Flock has a system of license plate readers, video cameras and audio detection devices incorporated into its AI database — logging details on vehicles to make “signatures.”

Local jurisdictions can share collected data with other law enforcement agencies, creating a major network that can be used in crime solving, but it has also led to misuse by officers in different agencies.

Within the last month, a detective in Deer Park, Texas, was suspended for using Flock’s system to search more than 150 times for plates that were not related to any investigation, according to an ABC affiliate station .

Flock has attempted to combat this with new privacy guidelines issued in August that included adding more methods to detect suspicious searches.

Pushback to the AI vehicle surveillance systems has grown on both sides of the aisle but has divided key figures within the GOP.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said he worried ALPRs would turn the state into a “digital AI surveillance state where everything we’re doing is being tracked at all times.”

President Trump did not reflect similar concerns, however, telling reporters he liked the technology when asked about his thoughts on Flock cameras helping law enforcement to stop crime.

“No, I sort of like them because of that, because of law enforcement. But some people don’t. They think it’s an infringement,” the president said, adding later, “I like them.”

Flock did not respond to The Hill’s request for immediate comment.