Texas Governor Halts State Funding for Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has paused all state funding for local grants used to purchase Flock surveillance cameras. This decision comes after a Texas Tribune analysis revealed that a $1 increase in car insurance policies, initially intended to combat catalytic converter theft, has funneled at least $30 million into expanding the state's Flock camera network. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, largely appointed by Governor Abbott, has used these funds to install over 3,200 Flock cameras across Texas. Lawmakers who voted for the original bill, which passed unanimously in 2023, expressed surprise and concern, stating that surveillance cameras were never discussed as a use for the increased fee. State Senator Carol Alvarado, who sponsored the bill, indicated that her intention was to fund more officers and undercover work, not AI-supported license plate readers. The move to halt funding reflects growing backlash and privacy concerns regarding the widespread deployment of these surveillance devices... 
